2012 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Chapter 53 - Child Custody
Section 5328 - Factors to consider when awarding custody

§ 5328.  Factors to consider when awarding custody.

(a)  Factors.--In ordering any form of custody, the court shall determine the best interest of the child by considering all relevant factors, giving weighted consideration to those factors which affect the safety of the child, including the following:

(1)  Which party is more likely to encourage and permit frequent and continuing contact between the child and another party.

(2)  The present and past abuse committed by a party or member of the party's household, whether there is a continued risk of harm to the child or an abused party and which party can better provide adequate physical safeguards and supervision of the child.

(3)  The parental duties performed by each party on behalf of the child.

(4)  The need for stability and continuity in the child's education, family life and community life.

(5)  The availability of extended family.

(6)  The child's sibling relationships.

(7)  The well-reasoned preference of the child, based on the child's maturity and judgment.

(8)  The attempts of a parent to turn the child against the other parent, except in cases of domestic violence where reasonable safety measures are necessary to protect the child from harm.

(9)  Which party is more likely to maintain a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with the child adequate for the child's emotional needs.

(10)  Which party is more likely to attend to the daily physical, emotional, developmental, educational and special needs of the child.

(11)  The proximity of the residences of the parties.

(12)  Each party's availability to care for the child or ability to make appropriate child-care arrangements.

(13)  The level of conflict between the parties and the willingness and ability of the parties to cooperate with one another. A party's effort to protect a child from abuse by another party is not evidence of unwillingness or inability to cooperate with that party.

(14)  The history of drug or alcohol abuse of a party or member of a party's household.

(15)  The mental and physical condition of a party or member of a party's household.

(16)  Any other relevant factor.

(b)  Gender neutral.--In making a determination under subsection (a), no party shall receive preference based upon gender in any award granted under this chapter.

(c)  Grandparents and great-grandparents.--

(1)  In ordering partial physical custody or supervised physical custody to a party who has standing under section 5325(1) or (2) (relating to standing for partial physical custody and supervised physical custody), the court shall consider the following:

(i)  the amount of personal contact between the child and the party prior to the filing of the action;

(ii)  whether the award interferes with any parent-child relationship; and

(iii)  whether the award is in the best interest of the child.

(2)  In ordering partial physical custody or supervised physical custody to a parent's parent or grandparent who has standing under section 5325(3), the court shall consider whether the award:

(i)  interferes with any parent-child relationship; and

(ii)  is in the best interest of the child.

Cross References.  Section 5328 is referred to in section 5323 of this title.