Understanding "The Best Interests of a Child"

Under Pennsylvania custody law, a judge or hearing officer, after holding a hearing, decides the custody arrangement based on what is in the "best interest of the child". The court is required to consider all relevant factors, giving more consideration to factors which affect the safety of the child. This is a review of all the factors listed in Pennsylvania law that the Court must consider when deciding the “best interests of the child” in a custody case, and how these factors might apply in your case.