Opinion ID: 1957359
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: .... B. Best Interests of the Child in the Absence of Parental Unfitness and Extraordinary or Exceptional Circumstances

Text: The arguments and outcome of the instant case in no way alter the best interests of the child standard that governs courts' assessments of disputes between fit parents involving visitation or custody. We have frequently and repeatedly emphasized that in situations where it applies, it is the central consideration. See Wilhelm v. Wilhelm, 214 Md. 80, 84, 133 A.2d 423, 425 (1957) (stating succinctly and conclusively in regard to the best interests standard, that [i]t seems unnecessary to cite additional authority in support of this firmly established rule). So critical is the best interests standard that it has garnered superlative language in the many cases in which the concept appears: This Court labeled it of transcendent importance in Dietrich v. Anderson, 185 Md. 103, 116, 43 A.2d 186, 191 (1945), as the ultimate test in Fanning v. Warfield, 252 Md. 18, 24, 248 A.2d 890, 894 (1969), and as the controlling factor in In re Adoption/Guardianship No. 10941, 335 Md. 99, 113, 642 A.2d 201, 208 (1994). See also Hoffman, 280 Md. at 175, n. 1, 372 A.2d at 585 n. 1 (providing a more complete survey of the various descriptions of the best interest standard). Although the child's well-being remains the focus of a court's analysis in disputes between fit parents, [t]he best interests standard does not ignore the interests of the parents and their importance to the child. We recognize that in almost all cases, it is in the best interests of the child to have reasonable maximum opportunity to develop a close and loving relationship with each parent. Boswell v. Boswell, 352 Md. 204, 220, 721 A.2d 662, 669 (1998) (alteration added).