The best interest of the child standard is a broad legal standard that governs the family court’s determination in matters of custody and visitation.  In essence, the court will look to which set of circumstances viewed from the child’s standpoint in relation to an alternative set of circumstances is in the child’s best interest.  To guide the court in this determination the judge, guided by the advocacy of a skilled child custody lawyer, will take the following into account: The child’s health, safety and welfare. The nature and amount of the child’s contact with both parents. History of drug or alcohol abuse. History of abuse. Any other relevant factors.