How Do Judges Decide Custody?

Kansas Statutes include a number of specific factors judges must consider when deciding issues related to child custody and parenting. Without getting overly detailed, these factors are the legislature's attempt to help judges determine what is in a child's best interests. Judges are granted great discretion to consider what weight to place on the various factors, and many judges publicly state that a parent's wiliness and ability to ensure that the other parent has a healthy relationship with their child is the single most important statutory factor. So even if you are the parent who takes responsibility for your child's medical appointments, helps with schoolwork and shops for school clothes, make SURE you are a parent who keeps the other parent in the loop on the child's educational and medical issues and make sure you cooperate in scheduling time with the other parent and that you are pleasant and cooperative when exchanging your child.