The bill amends existing laws regarding child custody in domestic relations cases, specifically focusing on the best interests of the child and shared custody considerations. A new section, W.S. 20-2-206, is created to require courts to provide specific findings of fact and conclusions of law when custody is not allocated equally between parents. Additionally, the bill introduces a new factor for courts to consider when determining the best interests of the child, which includes evidence of any parent providing false information related to domestic violence or child abuse cases.

The bill also outlines requirements for shared custody arrangements, mandating that courts order shared custody on a temporary basis unless it is determined that such an arrangement would not be in the child's best interests. For final custody orders, the court must consider the shared custody arrangement and provide written explanations if shared custody is not granted. Furthermore, definitions for joint legal custody, joint physical custody, and shared custody are established to clarify these terms within the context of custody arrangements. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to all custody-related petitions filed after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 20-2-101, 20-2-201, 20-2-204, 20-2-309