In hearing testimony and in reviewing evidence in cases involving custody disputes, the court must consider a multitude of factors. Focus should be on parenting skills, discipline techniques and the parent-child relationship. The common practice of trying to prove parents unfit is in many instances counter-productive. The potential for maintaining natural family relations.
Children develop relationships with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
These relationships are special and need to be encouraged and strengthened. The best interest of the child standard requires the court to look to see which parent is most liable to not interfere with the child's already established relationships with extended family. Another factor to be explored is which parent will encourage and strengthen contacty with the other parent, and last if there is a history of visitation or access denial this too must be noted. The desire and intent of the parents to abide by orders of the court and agreements. Agreements and cout orders are a guage rarely used by attorneys or closely monitored by the courts, yet they are an important factor that warrrants notice.