Section 25.20.060. Petition for award of child custody.

   (a) If there is a dispute over child custody, either parent may petition the superior court for resolution of the matter under AS 25.20.060 - 25.20.130. The court shall award custody on the basis of the best interests of the child. In determining the best interests of the child, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including those factors enumerated in AS 25.24.150(c), and the presumption established in AS 25.24.150(g). In a custody determination under this section, the court shall provide for visitation by a grandparent or other person if that is in the best interests of the child.
   (b) Neither parent, regardless of the question of the child's legitimacy, is entitled to preference in the awarding of custody.
   (c) The court may award shared custody to both parents if shared custody is determined by the court to be in the best interests of the child.  An award of shared custody shall assure that the child has frequent and continuing contact with each parent to the maximum extent possible.
   (d) If the court finds that a parent or child is a victim of domestic violence, the court may order that the address and telephone number of the parent or child be kept confidential in the proceedings.

Authorities

25.20.060;25.20.065;25.20.070;25.20.080;25.20.110;25.20.130;25.24.150

Notes

Recent Bills that will modify this

HB 334 CHILD CUSTODY;DOM. VIOLENCE;CHILD ABUSE

References

AS 25.20.060 Petition for award of child custody.
AS 25.20.065 Visitation rights of grandparent.
AS 25.20.070 Temporary custody of the child.
AS 25.20.080 Mediation of child custody matter.
AS 25.20.110 Modification of child custody or visitation.
AS 25.20.130 Access to records of the child.
AS 25.24.150 Judgments for custody; supervised visitation.

History

(Sec. 6 ch 63 SLA 1977; am Sec. 5 ch 88 SLA 1982; am Sec. 1 ch 30 SLA 1995; am Sec. 38 ch 64 SLA 1996; am Sec. 1 ch 111 SLA 2004)