Custody

When deciding who will have custody, the judge will try to make an arrangement that s/he thinks is in the best interest of your child.¹ Some of the factors that the judge will consider are:

• the quality of the relationship each child has with each parent;
• each parent’s ability to provide proper care for the child, including arranging for childcare if needed;
• how “fit” and “competent” the judge thinks each parent is;
• how willing each parent is to accept all of the responsibilities of parenting, including:
  • caring for your child at certain specified times; and
  • letting the other parent care for your child at other specified times;
• how the parents and each child can best maintain and improve a relationship with each other;
• how the parents and each child interact and communicate with each other and how this can be improved;
• how willing each parent is to allow the other parent to provide care without interference and to respect the other parent’s rights and responsibilities, including the right to privacy;
• the distance between the parents’ homes;
• the current physical and mental ability of each parent to care for each child;¹
• any domestic violence or child abuse committed by the other parent;² and
• anything else the judge believes affects your child’s best interest.¹

¹ Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-201(a)
² Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-201(c)