In determining whether to award shared custody of a child the court shall consider
(1) the child's preference if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to form a preference;
(2) the needs of the child;
(3) the stability of the home environment likely to be offered by each parent;
(4) the education of the child;
(5) the advantages of keeping the child in the community where the child presently resides;
(6) the optimal time for the child to spend with each parent considering
(A) the actual time spent with each parent;
(B) the proximity of each parent to the other and to the school in which the child is enrolled;
(C) the feasibility of travel between the parents;
(D) special needs unique to the child that may be better met by one parent than the other;
(E) the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship between the other parent and the child, except that the court may not consider this willingness and ability if one parent shows that the other parent has sexually assaulted or engaged in domestic violence against the parent or a child, and that a continuing relationship with the other parent will endanger the health or safety of either the parent or the child;
(7) any findings and recommendations of a neutral mediator;
(8) any evidence of domestic violence, child abuse, or child neglect in the proposed custodial household or a history of violence between the parents;
(9) evidence that substance abuse by either parent or other members of the household directly affects the emotional or physical well-being of the child;
(10) other factors the court considers pertinent.
Structure Alaska Statutes
Title 25. Marital and Domestic Relations
Sec. 25.20.010. Age of majority.
Sec. 25.20.020. Arrival at majority upon marriage.
Sec. 25.20.025. Examination and treatment of minors.
Sec. 25.20.030. Duty of parent and child to maintain each other.
Sec. 25.20.040. Maintenance and education of minor out of income of the minor's property.
Sec. 25.20.045. Legitimacy of children conceived by artificial insemination.
Sec. 25.20.050. Legitimation by subsequent marriage, acknowledgment in writing, or adjudication.
Sec. 25.20.055. Early acknowledgement of paternity program.
Sec. 25.20.060. Petition for award of child custody.
Sec. 25.20.061. Visitation in proceedings involving domestic violence.
Sec. 25.20.065. Visitation rights of grandparent.
Sec. 25.20.070. Temporary custody of the child.
Sec. 25.20.080. Mediation of child custody matter.
Sec. 25.20.090. Factors for consideration in awarding shared child custody.
Sec. 25.20.100. Reasons for denial to be set out.
Sec. 25.20.110. Modification of child custody or visitation.
Sec. 25.20.115. Attorney fee awards in custody and visitation matters.
Sec. 25.20.120. Closure of custody proceedings and records.
Sec. 25.20.130. Access to records of the child.
Sec. 25.20.140. Action for failure to permit visitation with minor child.