37 Va. App. 591 - Goodhand v. Kildoo’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

21 state decisions

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 21 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “In determining best interests of a child for purposes of determining custody ... the court shall consider the following: 1. The age and physical and mental condition of the child, giving due consideration to the child’s changing developmental needs; 2. The age and physical and mental condition of each parent; 3. The relationship existing between each parent and each child, giving due consideration to the positive involvement with the child’s life, the ability to accurately assess and meet the emotional, intellectual and physical needs of the child; 4. The needs of the child, giving due consideration to other important relationships of the child, including but not limited to siblings, peers and extended family members; 5. The role which each parent has played and will play in the future, in the upbringing and care of the child; 6. The propensity of each parent to actively support the child’s contact and relationship with the other parent, including whether a parent has unreasonably denied the other parent access to or visitation with the child; 7. The relative willingness and demonstrated ability of each parent to maintain a close and continuing relationship with the child, and the ability of each parent to cooperate in and resolve disputes regarding matters affecting the child; 8. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of reasonable intelligence, understanding, age and experience to express such a preference; 9. Any history of family abuse ”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 42 Va. App. 282 - Wheeler v. Wheeler

2. “Code § 20-124.3 requires the trial court to identify the fundamental, predominating reason or reasons underlying its decision. This level of specificity does not require the chancellor to address all aspects of the decisionmaking process, as one would expect from comprehensive findings of fact and conclusions of law. Nor does the 1999 amendment require the chancellor “to quantify or elaborate exactly what weight or consideration it has given to each of the statutory factors.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 41 Va. App. 550 - Lanzalotti v. Lanzalotti

3. ““The court may consider a benefit to the parent from relocation only if the move independently benefits the [child].” Accordingly, “[i]f the trial court finds that relocation is not in the ‘best interests of the child,’ the trial court must deny the relocation request. If maintaining the status quo is in the ‘best interests of the child,’ the court shall deny any requests to change custody and order that the status quo be maintained.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 38 Va. App. 773 - Sullivan v. Knick