CHAPTER 371

S.P. 491 - L.D. 1402

An Act To Provide Guidelines, Standards and Rights for

Children and the Guardians Who Care for Them

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 18-A MRSA §5-101, sub-§§(1-A), (1-B) and (1-C) are enacted to read:

(1-A)__The "best interest of the child" is determined according to this subsection.

(a)__In determining the best interest of the child the court shall consider the following factors:

(1)__The wishes of the party or parties as to custody;

(2)__The reasonable preference of the child, if the court considers the child to be of sufficient age to express preference;

(3)__The child's primary caregiver;

(4)__The bonding and attachment between each party and the child;

(5)__The interaction and interrelationship of the child with a party or parties, siblings and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interest;