Jacksonville Divorce Attorney Blog
People often believe that mothers tend to be more nurturing and better caregiver’s than fathers and thus should be the preferred parent in a custody dispute. As a matter of fact, this is a legal concept, termed the Tender Years Doctrine.
The Tender Years Doctrine is a legal doctrine in child custody cases, which has existed in Family Law since the late 19th century. The doctrine presumes that during a child’s tender years (age thirteen and under), the custody of the child should be that of the mother’s.
However, in Florida this doctrine is no longer applicable. In its place, Florida follows the Best Interests of the Child standard. The Best Interest of the Child standard does not take into consideration a parent’s gender when determining custody.
To find out more about what Florida Courts consider when settling custody disputes or if you need help in a current custody dispute contact a Jacksonville Child Custody Attorney today.