Oklahoma Defines Child’s Best Interests to Include Access for Both Parents – Law Blog

On Might 19, 2025, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed the Uniform Baby Safety Act into legislation. The law supplies stronger authorized protections for kids vulnerable to being taken or hid throughout a custody dispute. The brand new legislation permits courts to take preventative measures when there may be proof {that a} little one is vulnerable to being taken.

Notably, the Act says a courtroom should resolve what one of the best curiosity “is” for the kid and never what “seems to be.” It additionally units the authorized default for a kid’s greatest curiosity as entry to each mother and father. A father or mother can file for full custody of a kid or kids, however they need to show how this serves one of the best curiosity of the kid.

Full custody wouldn’t be an possibility for intercourse offenders or violent offenders. A father or mother on the intercourse offender or violent offender registry can not file for full custody.

Defining a Baby’s Greatest Pursuits Offers Obligatory Steerage to Judges and Mother and father

The little one’s greatest curiosity normal is designed to place the wants of the kid over the needs of the mother and father. This normal supplies a guardrail in opposition to mother and father who try and weaponize their little one in opposition to the opposite father or mother in a divorce or custody dispute. Extra importantly, it places the kids entrance and middle in a custody dispute somewhat than the mother and father.   

The issue with the usual is that it’s not at all times clear what’s in a toddler’s greatest pursuits. It’s straightforward to say that we have to prioritize kids, however what does that imply in observe? The Uniform Baby Safety Act makes an attempt to outline the usual by emphasizing that it’s in a toddler’s greatest pursuits for each mother and father to be concerned in a toddler’s life.

Making entry to each mother and father as half of a kid’s greatest pursuits would go a great distance in the direction of eliminating potential intercourse or gender bias in household legislation. Some judges nonetheless carry a societal bias that kids, notably younger kids, should be with their moms greater than their fathers. The brand new legislation would probably remove this potential bias from persevering with in custody choices.

There are some cases the place a little one could be higher off not being uncovered to a father or mother, corresponding to if the father or mother is a intercourse offender or violent. Nonetheless, the Act already takes this into consideration and makes such parental standing a possible exception to the notion of joint custody for fogeys. A father or mother can submit proof to argue in opposition to why custody ought to be granted or not.

Total, it is a well-crafted invoice for the twenty first century that can assist overcome potential bias and supply steerage on a well-meaning however obscure normal. If the Act is profitable in retaining kids with their mother and father, it ought to be a mannequin for different states to undertake.

Do I Want a Lawyer for My Household Legislation Concern?

For those who have problem seeing your little one as the vacations strategy, it’s best to contact a household lawyer immediately. A talented household lawyer can reply your questions, present steerage in your case, and signify your greatest pursuits in courtroom.