MO SB565

Courts must award joint physical and joint legal custody equally to both parents unless "compelling circumstances" exist (such as domestic violence or sex offenses involving children) or parents agree to a different arrangement

Judges handling family court dockets or child custody matters must complete 3 hours of annual training on parental alienation

When equal joint physical and legal custody is awarded, neither parent has a child support obligation to the other; medical expenses are split equally with credit given to the parent providing health insurance

Child support guidelines must allow up to a 50% reduction below the basic support amount for joint physical custody arrangements where children spend equal or substantially equal time with both parents

Courts may no longer consider factors such as parental wishes, which parent is more likely to allow contact with the other parent, or the child's adjustment to home/school/community when compelling circumstances require deviation from equal custody