§ 4.11 Provisions Regarding Child Custody and Child Support

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Publication year: 2021

§ 4.11 Provisions Regarding Child Custody and Child Support

The courts are not bound by provisions in a marital contract regarding child custody and support.⁴⁸⁷ Such determinations will be made by the divorce court according to the best interests of the child, the child's needs, and the parents' ability to pay.

This issue has arisen in connection with a parent's attempt to limit or avoid a child support obligation if divorce occurs.⁴⁸⁸ Courts have not enforced such limits. However, if the contract establishes a support level higher than what normally would result, a court might be more inclined to enforce such a provision.

Most courts will not enforce an agreement to raise children according to a specified religious tradition.⁴⁸⁹

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Notes:

^[487] See generally, Weitzman, "Legal Regulation of Marriage: Tradition and Change," 62 Calif. L. Rev. 1169 (1974). See:

Arizona: Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 25-203.
California: In re Marriage of Bonds, 24 Cal.4th 1, 99 Cal. Rptr.2d 252, 5 P.3d 815, 830 (2000).
Colorado: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-2-304.
Delaware: 13 Del. Code Ann. § 323(b).
Illinois: Ill. Compiled Stat. Ann., Ch. 750, § 10/4.
Idaho: Idaho Code § 32-923.
Iowa: Iowa Code § 595A.5.
Kentucky: Edwardson v. Edwardson, 798 S.W.2d 941 (Ky. 1990).
Louisiana: Sharpe v. Sharpe, 536 So.2d 434 (La. App. 1988).
Minnesota: Minn. Stat. Ann. § 519.11.
Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Code § 30-2316.
New Mexico: N.M. Code § 40-3A-4.
South Dakota: S.D. Code § 25-2-18.
Utah: Huck v. Huck, 734 P.2d 417 (Utah 1986); Utah Code Ann. § 30-8-4.
Washington: In re Marriage of Fox, 58 Wash. App. 935, 795 P.2d 1170 (1990).
Wyoming: Combs v. Sherry-Combs, 865 P.2d 50 (Wyo. 1993).

^[488] See, e.g., Combs v. Sherry-Combs, id. See also:

New Mexico: N.M. Stat. Ann. § 40-3A-4.
South Dakota: S.D. Comp. L. § 25-2-18.

^[489] See...