The best-interests standard no longer presumes mothers should get custody

Evidence

We can no longer assume, as we once did, that “best interests” almost always means mother, especially for children of “tender years.” Joint custody is one of many new ideas that the system has been trying out, to cope with problems of the children of divorce. — Lawrence M. Friedman and Grant M. Hayden, American Law, 766

Categorization

• XREF: Extends the reader’s earlier ch48 extract on rising expectations from companionate marriage driving divorce demand.