Best Interests of the Child: The Factors Judges Consider in Ontario

When determining custody, residency, and access according to section 24 of the *Children’s Law Reform Act *and section 16(8) of the Divorce Act, the test is what is in the best interests of the child.

The best interests of the child test is focused on the child’s needs as opposed to the parents’ rights.

The following is a list of some of the factors that are used to determine what is, in fact, in the best interests of the child:

• A child’s physical well-being;
• The bond between a child and his or her caregivers;
• The child’s physical, financial, and emotional needs;
• The parent’s ability to care for the child;
• The child’s culture, language, and religion;
• The benefit of keeping siblings together; and,
• The child’s views (the older the child, the more weight will be given to his or her desires).