(a) The Court shall determine the legal custody and residential arrangements for a child in accordance with the best interests of the child. In determining the best interests of the child, the Court shall consider all relevant factors including:

(1) The wishes of the child’s parent or parents as to his or her custody and residential arrangements;

(2) The wishes of the child as to his or her custodian or custodians and residential arrangements;

(3) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with his or her parents, grandparents, siblings, persons cohabiting in the relationship of husband and wife with a parent of the child, any other residents of the household or persons who may significantly affect the child’s best interests;

(4) The child’s adjustment to his or her home, school and community;

(5) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved;

(6) Past and present compliance by both parents with their rights and responsibilities to their child under § 701 of this title;

(7) Evidence of domestic violence as provided for in Chapter 7A of this title; and

(8) The criminal history of any party or any other resident of the household including whether the criminal history contains pleas of guilty or no contest or a conviction of a criminal offense.

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Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 13 Sec. 722

  • Child: means a person who has not reached the age of 18 years. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.

(b) The Court shall not presume that a parent, because of his or her sex, is better qualified than the other parent to act as a joint or sole legal custodian for a child or as the child’s primary residential parent, nor shall it consider conduct of a proposed sole or joint custodian or primary residential parent that does not affect his or her relationship with the child.

59 Del. Laws, c. 569, § ?4; 67 Del. Laws, c. 236, §§ ?2, 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § ?3; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 311, § ?1;