| Title 32 of the Idaho Statutes contains the state laws | | | | interaction of the child with a siblings, the child's |
| about domestic relations. Child custody falls under this | | | | adjustment to all aspects of living, the character and |
| section of law. Parents involved in a custody situation | | | | circumstances of all people involved, the need to |
| should learn the rules and guidelines that apply to their | | | | promote continuity and stability in the child's life, and if |
| case. This is especially important as the parents | | | | there has been any history of domestic abuse or |
| prepare a custody agreement to submit to the court | | | | violence. These are all factors that the mother and |
| because the agreement is the most crucial document | | | | father should think about when making the parenting |
| in a custody proceeding. Here are some rules from the | | | | plan. They should fit the plan to meet all of the needs |
| statutes that parents can use when making a | | | | mentioned above. |
| parenting plan. | | | | Section 717B outlines the state's views on joint |
| Title 32 Section 717 explains Idaho's standard for | | | | custody. Idaho encourages parents to have a joint |
| making custody decisions. The state determines all | | | | custody agreement. This can be physical or legal joint |
| custody matters in the best interest of the child. This | | | | custody. Joint custody doesn't mean that the parents |
| means that the custody agreement must fulfill the | | | | have the same amount of time with the children, |
| needs of the child and promote the child's welfare. It | | | | instead it means that both parents are involved in |
| isn't about what is best or fair for the parents, rather it | | | | raising the child. Parents who opt for this type of |
| is about what aids the children. | | | | arrangement should come up with a plan that details |
| Some of the factors, found in Section 717, that the | | | | how the parents will share the responsibilities of rearing |
| court looks at when considering what is best for the | | | | a child. If a court doesn't order joint custody, there must |
| child include: the wishes of the child and the parents, | | | | be an explanation as to why joint custody isn't in the |
| the interaction of the child with the parents, the | | | | child's best interest. |