This bill aims to clarify procedures in contested child custody cases in New Jersey, emphasizing the protection and welfare of minor children as paramount. It introduces new legal language that mandates the court to consider the child's preferences and the recommendations of any licensed mental health professional involved in the child's care when making custody decisions. The bill also specifies that the court must document the reasons for any custody arrangement that deviates from the child's expressed preferences and prohibits the court from ordering reunification therapy unless there is scientifically valid proof of its safety and effectiveness.

Additionally, the bill requires the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners to develop professional standards for reunification therapy within 12 months of the bill's enactment. It outlines that the representation of a child's interests by a guardian ad litem or attorney must include the child's expressed preferences, provided they do not pose a risk of harm. The legislation modifies existing language in the custody statute to reinforce the importance of making custody decisions based on the best interests of the child, ensuring that these decisions are tailored to individual circumstances.