|
he Factors
the Court looks at For Determining Custody
The criteria for judicial
determination includes, but is not limited to,
1) fitness of the parents, Cornwell
v. Cornwell, 244 Md. 674, 224 A.2d 870 (1966); Barnard v.
Godfrey, 157 Md. 264, 145 A. 614 (1929);
2) character and reputation of the
parties, Hoder v. Hoder, 245 Md. 705, 227 A.2d 750 (1967);
3) desire of the natural parents
and agreements between the parties, Breault v. Breault, 250 Md.
173, 242 A.2d 116 (1968); McClary v. Follett, 226 Md. 436, 174
A.2d 66 (1961); Colburn v. Colburn, 20 Md.App. 346, 316 A.2d 283
(1974); Davis v. Jurney, 145 A.2d 846 (D.C.Mun.App.1958);
4) potentiality of maintaining
natural family relations, Lippy v. Breidenstein, 249 Md. 415,
240 A.2d 251 (1968); Melton v. Connolly, supra; Piotrowski v.
State, 179 Md. 377, 18 A.2d 199 (1941);
5) preference of the child, Ross v.
Pick, 199 Md. at 353, 86 A.2d at 469; Young v. Weaver, 185 Md.
328, 44 A.2d 748 (1945); United States v. Green, 26 Fed.Cas. No.
15256, pp. 30, 31-32 (C.C.R.I.1824);
6) material opportunities affecting
the future life of the child, Thumma v. Hartsook, supra; Butler
v. Perry, supra; Cockerham v. The Children's Aid Soc'y of Cecil
County, 185 Md. 97, 43 A.2d 197 (1945); Jones v. Stockett,2
Bland. 409 (Ch.1838);
7) age, health and sex of the
child, Alden v. Alden,226 Md. 622, 174 A.2d 793 (1961); Cullotta
v. Cullotta, 193 Md. 374, 66 A.2d 919 (1949); Piotrowski v.
State, supra;
8) residences of parents and
opportunity for visitation, Rzeszotarski v. Rzeszotarski, 296
A.2d 431, 440 (D.C.App.1972);
9) length of separation from the
natural parents, Ross v. Hoffman, supra; Melton v. Connolly,
supra; Powers v. Hadden, 30 Md.App. 577, 353 A.2d 641 (1976);
and
10) prior voluntary abandonment or
surrender, Dietrich v. Anderson, supra; Davis v. Jurney, supra.
While
the court considers all the above factors, it will generally not
weigh any one to the exclusion of all others. The court should
examine the totality of the situation in the
alternative environments and avoid
focusing on any single factor such as the financial situation,
Cockerham v. The Children's Aid Soc'y of Cecil County, supra, or
the length of separation. Powers v. Hadden, supra. |
