HB 1025 Summary

• Establishes a rebuttable presumption that joint legal custody awards serve the child's best interests, effective July 1, 2013.

• Requires courts to consider three specific factors when a party challenges the presumption: fitness and suitability of each person seeking joint custody, ability to communicate and cooperate regarding the child's welfare, and whether the child has a close and beneficial relationship with both persons.

• Defines joint legal custody as shared authority and responsibility for major decisions regarding the child's education, health care, and religious training, excluding physical custody.

• Repeals prior statutory provisions governing joint legal custody determinations that are superseded by this rebuttable presumption framework.

• Amends both IC 31-14-13 (custody determinations) and IC 31-17-2 (juvenile law custody provisions) to apply the joint custody presumption consistently across family and juvenile law proceedings.