Abstract
The experiences and practices of family law attorneys, trial judges, and mental health professionals regarding the involvement of children in contested custody cases were investigated through a systematic and detailed survey. Results revealed that the level and manner of children's involvement was linearly related to a child's age as reported by all groups. Judicial jurisdiction was also related to whether children's wishes were sought and in what manner; specifically, Michigan judges were significantly more likely to interview children using flexible due process than Virginia judges. In addition, interview procedures used by mental health professionals and judges, such as length, making of records, and the presence of other individuals, differed significantly. The amount and complexity of children's involvement suggest that further research is needed to explore these complexities and their effects on children.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armstrong v. Stone, 50 Va. 102 (1852).
Atkinson, J. (1984). Criteria for deciding child custody in the trial and appellate courts.Family Law Quarterly, 18, 1–42.
Benedek, R. S., & Benedek, E. P. (1979). The child's preference in Michigan custody disputes.American Journal of Family Therapy, 7, 37–43.
Burghdoff v. Burghdoff, 239 N.W.2d 679 (1976).
Dempsey v. Dempsey, 296 N.W.2d 813 (1980).
Dillman, D. (1978).Mail and telephone surveys: The total design method. New York: Wiley.
Drapkin, R., & Bienenfeld, F. (1985). The power of including children in custody mediation.Journal of Divorce, 7, 63–95.
Felner, R. D., Terre, L., Farber, S., Primavera, J. & Bishop, T. A. (1985). Child custody: Practices and Perspectives of legal professionals.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 14, 27–34.
Garrison, M. G. (1991). Children's competence to participate in divorce custody decision making.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 20, 78–87.
Hall v. Hall, 210 Va. 668 (1970).
Hewitt v. Long, 76 Ill. 399 (1875).
In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967).
In the matter of Stevens, 273 N.W.2d 490 (1978).
Jones, C. (1984). Judicial questioning of children in custody and visitation proceedings.Family Law Quarterly, 18, 43–91.
Keilin, W. G., & Bishop, L. J. (1986). Child custody evaluation practices: A survey of experienced professionals.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 17, 338–346.
Lavene v. Lavene, 372 A.2d 629 (1977).
Lesauskis v. Lesauskis, 314 N.W.2d 767 (1981).
Levy, A. M. (1980). The meaning of the child's preference in child custody determinations.Journal of Psychiatry and Law, 1980, 221–234.
Lewis v. Lewis, 252 N.W.2d 237 (1977).
Lombard, F. (1984). Judicial interviewing of children in custody cases: An empirical and analytical study.University of California-Davis Law Review, 17, 807–851.
Lowery, C. R. (1981). Child custody decisions in divorce proceedings: A survey of judges.Professional Psychology, 12, 492–298.
Mnookin, R. H. (1975). Child-custody adjudication: Judicial functions in the face of indeterminacy.Law and Contemporary Problems, 39, 226–293.
Moskowitz, L. A. (1978). Divorce-custody dispositions: The child's wishes in perspective.Santa Clara Law Review, 18, 427–452.
Newman, J. M., & Collester, D. G. (1980). Children should be seen and heard: Techniques for interviewing the child in contested custody proceedings.Family Advocate, 8–32.
New Hampshire, v. Richardson, 40 N.H. 272 (1860).
Pearson, J., Munson, P., & Thoennes, N. (1984). Children's rights and child custody proceedings.Journal of Divorce, 7, 1–21.
Planned Parenthood of Central Missouri v. Danforth, 428 U.S. 52 (1976).
Reincke, M., & Wilhelmi, J. C. (Eds.) (1992)The American, bench: Judges of the nation. Minneapolis, MN: Reginald Bishop Forster & Associates.
Reppucci, N. D. (1984). The wisdom of Solomon: Issues in child custody determinations. In: N. D. Reppucci, L. A. Weithorn, E. P. Mulvey, & J. Monahan (Eds.),Mental health, law and children (pp. 59–77). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Rogers, L. C. (1987). Child custody: The judicial interview with the child.Louisiana Law Review, 47, 559–588.
Scott, E. S., Reppucci, N. D., & Aber, M. (1988). Children's preference in adjudicated custody decisions.Georgia Law Review, 22, 1035–1078.
Settle, S. A., & Lowery, C. R. (1982). Child custody decisions: Content analysis of a judicial survey.Journal of Divorce, 6, 125–138.
Stringer v. Vincent, 411 N.W. 2d 474 (1987).
Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act (1970). Chicago: National Conference on Uniform State Laws.
Wadlington, W., Whitebread, C. H., & Davis, S. M. (1983).Children in the legal system. Mineola, NY: Foundation Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Crosby-Currie, C.A. Children's involvement in contested custody cases: Practices and experiences of legal and mental health professionals. Law Hum Behav 20, 289–311 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01499025
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01499025