| Title 16, Chapter 9 of the Washington DC Official Code | | | | legal document. However, if the custody agreement is |
| contains the laws that regulate domestic affairs. Within | | | | contested, the court has the authority to make |
| this section of law, parents involved in a custody | | | | decisions about the custody arrangements. This |
| situation can find the necessary rules and guidelines to | | | | means that the court can choose to accept either |
| help them make a custody agreement. The custody | | | | parent's plan, combine elements of both plans into a |
| agreement is of the utmost importance because it | | | | new one, or create an entirely new plan. The court |
| regulates the custody situation until the child is an adult. | | | | then makes the agreement into a custody order. The |
| Parents should do everything in their power to make | | | | custody order is a legal document that the parents are |
| an agreement that is best for the child and that will | | | | obligated to follow. |
| also be accepted by the court. Here is an overview of | | | | 3. Best interest of the child. Title 16-914 makes it very |
| some of the laws that impact how the parenting plan | | | | clear that all custody decisions made by the court will |
| is made. | | | | be done based on what is best for the child. Parents |
| 1. Presumption of joint custody. Title 16, Chapter 9 | | | | should also use this standard as they make the |
| explains that Washington DC has a presumption that | | | | parenting plan. When determining what is best for the |
| joint custody is in the best interest of the child. This | | | | child, the court will consider: the wishes of the child and |
| means that a joint custody agreement will be ordered | | | | the parents; the interaction and interrelationship |
| by the court unless a parent can show that joint | | | | between the child and the parents, the child and other |
| custody is detrimental to the child. In most cases, | | | | siblings, and the child and other significant family |
| parents should try to work out a parenting plan that | | | | members; the willingness of the parents to share |
| divides the legal and physical parenting responsibilities. | | | | custody; the prior involvement of each parent with the |
| Joint custody doesn't mean that each parent has | | | | child; the potential disruption of the child's school and |
| exactly equal time with the child. Rather it means that | | | | social life; the geographic proximity of the parents; the |
| both parents are actively involved in the child's life. | | | | demands of parental employment; the age and |
| 2. Authority of the court. Parents in Washington DC | | | | number of children; the sincerity of each parent's |
| are encouraged to work together to make a parenting | | | | request; the parent's ability to financially support a joint |
| plan. If they cooperate and submit a plan together to | | | | custody arrangement; and the benefit to the parents. |
| the court, the court will accept the plan and make it a | | | | |