Summarizes the essential stipulations in laws relating to custody determination in table form. Issues of joint or shared custody, the principle of the best interests of the child, Uniform Child Custody Act, and the acceptance of psychological investigations of the child and his or her family are discussed. (Author/JAC)

Focuses on noncustodial parents, who are usually fathers. Discusses 10 dilemmas of parents in the noncustodial position and delineates what can be done by individual and family counselors to enhance ability of noncustodial parents to maintain parenting relationships with their children. (Author)

Custody planning among parents living with HIV or AIDS (PLHAs) can buffer the negative impact of parental death. The formal and informal custody plans for 594 children by 253 PLHAs and the relationships among custody plans, parental health, and psychosocial status were examined. About one-half of the parents had no formal custody plan. Parents…

This report presents Wisconsin state legislation dealing with custody arrangements. Part I gives key provisions of 1987 Assembly Bill 205. Part II reviews background activities related to the custody legislation. Part III discusses major issues relating to child custody arrangements, including definition clarification, child custody dispute…

Compares two custody dispute intervention strategies, evaluation and mediation, and clarifies their philosophy, procedural differences, and limitations. The growing dissatisfaction with existing methods of processing custody disputes is affecting public policy as well as the focus of social research and the practice of the mental health…

Familiarizes family professionals with how family law has been applied to stepfamilies and discusses how social science research findings may assist in process of legal reform. Reviews family law in areas of stepparents' financial support of stepchildren and stepparent custody and visitation following termination of remarriage. Makes tentative…

Contends that counselors and teachers can promote children's rights to nurturance and self-determination by encouraging parents to respect children's desire to live with both parents after divorce. Attempts to increase awareness among teachers and counselors that children as persons, rather than property, have specific rights in relation to…

Gives a brief account of recent developments in matrimonial law related to divorce, custody, and visitation to the children of divorcing couples. Discusses the development of mediation, its organizational structure, and its place within the context of the legal system of the United Kingdom. Outlines the principles of conciliation. (Author/ABL)

Whether joint custody should be mandated by state law as the norm for divorcing couples is hotly debated between fathers' and mothers' rights groups and among mental health and legal professionals. This debate is traced, and the public policy implications of recent joint custody research are discussed. Policies for strengthening coparenting after…

Describes recent changes in divorce laws in United States, England, Wales, France, and Sweden. Notes that divorce has become increasingly easy to obtain; spousal support has become less common; efforts have been made to increase child support awards and to improve payment compliance; and shared parental decision-making authority has become…

Presents a consultation model that can serve to diminish the destructive impact of the adversarial process in child custody decisions. The process and procedures described are consonant with what most state statutes suggest as criteria for consideration in custody decisions and promote the best interests of the children. (JAC)

Because parental alienation syndrome is newly recognized, it must be redefined as new cases are observed. Evidence suggests that alienation may be provoked by other than custodial matters, cases of alleged sexual abuse may be hinted, slow judgments by courts exacerbate problem, prolonged alienation of child may trigger mental illness, and little…

Examines the role of mental health counselors in the evaluation of families for child custody disputes. Suggests that even though child custody evaluation requires specialized knowledge, expertise, and experience, it can become a rewarding aspect of a mental health counselor's practice. (LLL)

This document is one of six discussion papers prepared for the Wisconsin Legislative Council's Special Committee on Crimes Against Children. The introduction explains the committee's task of conducting a thorough examination of state laws relating to crimes against children, reviewing major policy issues affecting those laws to determine whether…

Addresses the issue of whether a school counselor, with good reason, may contact a noncustodial parent to share information without notifying the custodial parent. Presents an actual case including a statement of facts, the issues, and a conclusion. (ABB)