Wells v. Wells’s Empirical Analysis
1976
Citation profile
17
cited by 17 later decisions
2
states following
January 1986
most recently cited
17 state decisions
Relationships
Relies on Nye v. Nye · 13 Ill. App. 3d 87 - McDonald v. McDonald · 21 Ill. App. 3d 550 - Rosenberger v. Rosenberger · Stafford v. Stafford · 14 Ill. App. 2d 242 - Dunning v. Dunning
Most-quoted passages
The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 17 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.
““The courts are mindful that stability in a child’s environment is a weighty factor [citation], and, in that concern, a sound principle of law has evolved: custody will not be altered unless there has been a change in circumstance which involves the child’s welfare. [Citations.] One of the factors to be considered in a change of custody action is the preference of the child involved [citation], although it has been repeatedly stated by the Illinois courts that the child’s preference for a change of custodial parent, without showing that the welfare of the child is affected, is not a sufficient change of circumstances to warrant a custody change. [Citation.] When the child’s desire, however, is based upon reasons related to its best welfare, the child’s preference should be given serious consideration. [Citation.]” ( 36 Ill. App. 3d 488, 490 .)”
1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majoritye.g. Garner v. Garner
How this case has been treated — in progress
Whether each later court followed, distinguished, criticized, or overruled this decision. The treatment classification (task #35) runs highest-cited cases first and lights up here as it reaches this one.