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H.B. 280

             1     

JOINT CUSTODY AMENDMENTS

             2     
2005 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: LaVar Christensen

             5     
             6      LONG TITLE
             7      General Description:
             8          This bill modifies joint custody options.
             9      Highlighted Provisions:
             10          This bill:
             11          .    changes the reference of "decree" to "order";
             12          .    allows the court to order joint legal custody or joint physical custody if one or both
             13      of the parents have filed a parenting plan in accordance with Section 30-3-10.8; and
             14          .    requires a parent seeking to modify any type of shared parenting plan to submit a
             15      proposed parenting plan with the petition.
             16      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22          30-3-10.2, as last amended by Chapters 176 and 269, Laws of Utah 2003
             23          30-3-10.4, as last amended by Chapter 255, Laws of Utah 2001
             24          30-3-10.7, as enacted by Chapter 126, Laws of Utah 2001
             25     
             26      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             27          Section 1. Section 30-3-10.2 is amended to read:



             28           30-3-10.2. Joint custody order -- Factors for court determination -- Public
             29      assistance.
             30          (1) The court may order joint legal custody or joint physical custody or both if [the]
             31      one or both parents have filed a parenting plan in accordance with Section 30-3-10.8 and it
             32      determines that joint legal custody or joint physical custody or both is in the best interest of the
             33      child.
             34          (2) In determining whether the best interest of a child will be served by ordering joint
             35      legal or physical custody, the court shall consider the following factors:
             36          (a) whether the physical, psychological, and emotional needs and development of the
             37      child will benefit from joint legal or physical custody;
             38          (b) the ability of the parents to give first priority to the welfare of the child and reach
             39      shared decisions in the child's best interest;
             40          (c) whether each parent is capable of encouraging and accepting a positive relationship
             41      between the child and the other parent, including the sharing of love, affection, and contact
             42      between the child and the other parent;
             43          (d) whether both parents participated in raising the child before the divorce;
             44          (e) the geographical proximity of the homes of the parents;
             45          (f) the preference of the child if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to reason so
             46      as to form an intelligent preference as to joint legal or physical custody;
             47          (g) the maturity of the parents and their willingness and ability to protect the child from
             48      conflict that may arise between the parents;
             49          (h) the past and present ability of the parents to cooperate with each other and make
             50      decisions jointly;
             51          (i) any history of, or potential for, child abuse, spouse abuse, or kidnaping; and
             52          (j) any other factors the court finds relevant.
             53          (3) The determination of the best interest of the child shall be by a preponderance of
             54      the evidence.
             55          (4) The court shall inform both parties that an order for joint physical custody may
             56      preclude eligibility for cash assistance provided under Title 35A, Chapter 3, Employment
             57      Support Act.
             58          (5) The court may order that where possible the parties attempt to settle future disputes


             59      by a dispute resolution method before seeking enforcement or modification of the terms and
             60      conditions of the order of joint legal custody or joint physical custody through litigation, except
             61      in emergency situations requiring ex parte orders to protect the child.
             62          Section 2. Section 30-3-10.4 is amended to read:
             63           30-3-10.4. Modification or termination of order.
             64          (1) On the motion of one or both of the parents, or the joint legal custodians if they are
             65      not the parents, the court may, after a hearing, modify an order that established [joint legal]
             66      custody if:
             67          (a) the circumstances of the child or one or both custodians have materially and
             68      substantially changed since the entry of the order to be modified[, or the order has become
             69      unworkable or inappropriate under existing circumstances]; and
             70          (b) a modification of the terms and conditions of the [decree] order would be an
             71      improvement for and in the best interest of the child.
             72          (2) A parent requesting a modification from sole custody to joint legal custody or joint
             73      physical custody or both, or any other type of shared parenting arrangement, shall file and serve
             74      a proposed parenting plan with the petition to modify in accordance with Section 30-3-10.8 .
             75          [(2)] (3) The order of joint legal custody [shall] may be terminated by order of the
             76      court if both parents file a motion for termination and the court determines that the joint legal
             77      custody order is unworkable or inappropriate under existing circumstances. At the time of
             78      entry of an order terminating joint legal custody, the court shall enter an order of sole legal
             79      custody under Section 30-3-10 . All related issues, including parent-time and child support,
             80      shall also be determined and ordered by the court.
             81          (4) If the court finds that one parent unreasonably refuses or fails to cooperate in
             82      support of a joint custody order, the court may award sole custody to the other parent.
             83          [(3)] (5) If the court finds that an action under this section is filed or answered
             84      frivolously and in a manner designed to harass the other party, the court shall assess attorney's
             85      fees as costs against the offending party.
             86          Section 3. Section 30-3-10.7 is amended to read:
             87           30-3-10.7. Parenting plan -- Definitions.
             88          (1) "Parenting plan" means a plan for parenting a child, including allocation of
             89      parenting functions, which is incorporated in any final decree or decree of modification [in]


             90      including an action for dissolution of marriage, annulment, legal separation, or paternity.
             91          (2) "Parenting functions" means those aspects of the parent-child relationship in which
             92      the parent makes decisions and performs functions necessary for the care and growth of the
             93      child. Parenting functions include:
             94          (a) maintaining a loving, stable, consistent, and nurturing relationship with the child;
             95          (b) attending to the daily needs of the child, such as feeding, clothing, physical care,
             96      grooming, supervision, health care, day care, and engaging in other activities which are
             97      appropriate to the developmental level of the child and that are within the social and economic
             98      circumstances of the particular family;
             99          (c) attending to adequate education for the child, including remedial or other education
             100      essential to the best interest of the child;
             101          (d) assisting the child in developing and maintaining appropriate interpersonal
             102      relationships;
             103          (e) exercising appropriate judgment regarding the child's welfare, consistent with the
             104      child's developmental level and family social and economic circumstances; and
             105          (f) providing for the financial support of the child.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-28-05 10:46 AM


Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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