Bridgers v. Bridgers’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

10 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 10 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “When a trial court has made a considered decree of permanent custody the party seeking a change bears a heavy burden of proving that the continuation of the present custody is so deleterious to the child as to justify a modification of the custody decree, or of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the harm likely to be caused by a change of environment is substantially outweighed by its advantages to the child.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Cucchiara v. Cucchiara · 554 So. 2d 238 - Simmons v. Simmons

2. “"The best interest of the children is the sole criterion in a change of custody case. In determining what is in the best interest of the children, courts must examine all relevant facts. These include, but are not limited to, stability of environment, the standard of living each parent can provide, and the prior history of the children's custody. Further, it is settled that the father and the mother stand on equal footing at the outset of child custody proceedings and the role of the court is to determine the best interest of the children based on the relative fitness and ability of the competing parents in all respects to care for the children. Finally, under our law, joint custody is presumed to be the preferred custodial arrangement. In light of the above, the children are the real parties at interest in a custody proceeding and the sole issue to be decided is what custodial arrangement will serve their best interest. A determination of this issue can and should not be made until all evidence has been adduced which bears upon the relative fitness and ability of competing parents in all respects to care for the children. Thus, it can be concluded that, because of the unique nature of such proceedings, irrespective of whether an initial award of custody is involved or a change of custody is sought, the competing parties share equally the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence the custodial arrangement which will best serve the interest of the children." (C”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 554 So. 2d 238 - Simmons v. Simmons