Mont. Code Ann. » TITLE 40. FAMILY LAW · CHAPTER 4. TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE, CHILD CUSTODY, SUPPORT · Part 2. Support, Custody, Visitation, and Related Provisions
Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212 (2026)

Best Interest Of Child

✓ current as of May 2026
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  1. MCA Contents
  2. TITLE 40
  3. CHAPTER 4
  4. Part 2
  5. 40-4-212 Best interest of child

TITLE 40. FAMILY LAW

CHAPTER 4. TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE, CHILD CUSTODY, SUPPORT

Part 2. Support, Custody, Visitation, and Related Provisions

Best Interest Of Child

40-4-212. Best interest of child. (1) The court shall determine the parenting plan in accordance with the best interest of the child. The court shall consider all relevant parenting factors, which may include but are not limited to:

(a) the wishes of the child's parent or parents;

(b) the wishes of the child;

(c) the interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child's parent or parents and siblings and with any other person who significantly affects the child's best interest;

(d) the child's adjustment to home, school, and community;

(e) the mental and physical health of all individuals involved;

(f) physical abuse or threat of physical abuse by one parent against the other parent or the child;

(g) chemical dependency, as defined in 53-24-103, or chemical abuse on the part of either parent;

(h) continuity and stability of care;

(i) developmental needs of the child;

(j) whether a parent has knowingly failed to pay birth-related costs that the parent is able to pay, which is considered to be not in the child's best interests;

(k) whether a parent has knowingly failed to financially support a child that the parent is able to support, which is considered to be not in the child's best interests;

(l) whether the child has frequent and continuing contact with both parents, which is considered to be in the child's best interests unless the court determines, after a hearing, that contact with a parent would be detrimental to the child's best interests. In making that determination, the court shall consider evidence of physical abuse or threat of physical abuse by one parent against the other parent or the child, including but not limited to whether a parent or other person residing in that parent's household has been convicted of any of the crimes enumerated in 40-4-219(8)(b).

(m) adverse effects on the child resulting from continuous and vexatious parenting plan amendment actions.

(2) When determining the best interest of the child of a parent in military service, the court shall consider all relevant parenting factors provided in subsection (1) and may not determine the best interest of the child based only upon the parent's military service.

(3) A de facto parenting arrangement, in the absence of a prior parenting decree, does not require the child's parent or parents to prove the factors set forth in 40-4-219.

(4) The following are rebuttable presumptions and apply unless contrary to the best interest of the child:

(a) A parenting plan action brought by a parent within 6 months after a child support action against that parent is vexatious.

(b) A motion to amend a final parenting plan pursuant to 40-4-219 is vexatious if a parent seeks to amend a final parenting plan without making a good faith effort to comply with the provisions of the parenting plan or with dispute resolution provisions of the final parenting plan.

History: En. 48-332 by Sec. 32, Ch. 536, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 48-332; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 379, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 303, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 467, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 343, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 356, L. 2009.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 319 cases (40 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: Paternity of C.T.E.-h., 2004 MT 307 (Mont. 2004).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Paternity of C.T.E.-h., 2004 MT 307 (Mont. 2004). · cites it 35× “In the case at hand, there was no FPP modification, and therefore the District Court needed only to determine whether the FPP was in the “best interest of the child.”
Czapranski v. Czapranski, 2003 MT 14 (Mont. 2003). · cites it 25× “Should this Court adopt a heightened standard of review when reviewing a district court’s custody decision in a dissolution proceeding? ¶13 Julie argues that the above-stated standard of review should be reexamined and heightened, requiring that a district court’s discretion be…”
In re Williams, 425 P.3d 1277 (Mont. 2018). · cites it 18× “¶ 8 In pertinent part, § 40-4-212, MCA, provides: (1) The court shall determine the parenting plan in accordance with the best interest *1280 of the child.”
In Re the Custody of D.M.G., 1998 MT 1 (Mont. 1998). · cites it 32× “This subsection of § 40-4-212, MCA, was repealed by the 1997 Legislature effective October 1, 1997.”
Marriage of Woerner v. Woerner, 2014 MT 134 (Mont. 2014). · cites it 23× “” Section 40-4-212(1), MCA. The statute directs the district court to consider “all relevant parenting factors.”
Markegard v. Markegard, 616 P.2d 323 (Mont. 1980). · cites it 46× “The mother contends that the trial court erred in the following respects: (1) that the trial court ignored the relevant factors in section 40-4-212, MCA, with regard to a determination of custody; (2) that the trial court failed to properly consider the presumption that a mother…”
In Re the Marriage of Ulland, 823 P.2d 864 (Mont. 1991). · cites it 44× “The District Court must consider the factors set forth in § 40-4-212, MCA, when determining whether the modification of physical custody is in the child's best interest.”
In re Kesler, 427 P.3d 77 (Mont. 2018). · cites it 13× “Those findings were not discussed further or relied upon when the court applied the statutory factors under § 40-4-212, MCA, in determining the best interest of the child.”
In re Bessette, 434 P.3d 894 (Mont. 2019). · cites it 8× “§ 40-4-220(2)(ii), the [c]ourt has the authority to grant a temporary order providing for living arrangements for the child ex parte as an emergency situation has arisen in the child's present environment that endangers the child's physical, mental, and emotional health and an…”
Marriage of Taylor, 2023 MT 189N (Mont. 2023). · cites it 18× “John responds that the District Court carefully considered the factors in § 40-4-212, MCA, and relied on substantial credible evidence to determine that the children’s best interests will be served by residing with him during the school week and with Dawn on the weekends.”
In Re the Marriage of Graham, 2008 MT 435 (Mont. 2008). · cites it 16× “¶19 Section 40-4-212, MCA, provides that a court shall determine a parenting plan in accordance with the child’s best interests and all relevant parenting factors, including the 13 factors specifically set forth in the statute.”
In Re the Marriage of Whyte Couvi, 2012 MT 45 (Mont. 2012). · cites it 16× “¶28 Section 40-4-212, MCA, provides that the court shall determine a parenting plan in accordance with the best interest of the child, in consideration of “all relevant parenting factors.”
Show all 319 citing cases →
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1) — 67 cases
Marriage of Woerner v. Woerner, 2014 MT 134 (Mont. 2014). “” Section 40-4-212(1), MCA. The statute directs the district court to consider “all relevant parenting factors.”
Jacobsen v. Thomas, 2006 MT 212 (Mont. 2006).
Czapranski v. Czapranski, 2003 MT 14 (Mont. 2003). “Should this Court adopt a heightened standard of review when reviewing a district court’s custody decision in a dissolution proceeding? ¶13 Julie argues that the above-stated standard of review should be reexamined and heightened, requiring that a district court’s discretion be…”
In Re the Marriage of Fishbaugh, 2002 MT 175 (Mont. 2002).
Paternity of C.T.E.-h., 2004 MT 307 (Mont. 2004). “In the case at hand, there was no FPP modification, and therefore the District Court needed only to determine whether the FPP was in the “best interest of the child.”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(1) — 3 cases
Marriage of Marez & Marshall, 2014 MT 333 (Mont. 2014).
In Re the Parenting of M.C., 2015 MT 57 (Mont. 2015).
Marriage of Davis, 2016 MT 52 (Mont. 2016).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(a) — 8 cases
In re Kesler, 427 P.3d 77 (Mont. 2018). “Those findings were not discussed further or relied upon when the court applied the statutory factors under § 40-4-212, MCA, in determining the best interest of the child.”
In Re S.W.B.S., 432 P.3d 709 (Mont. 2019).
Marriage of Persoma, 2021 MT 89N (Mont. 2021).
Marriage of Goudreau, 2024 MT 6N (Mont. 2024).
Parenting of A.J.B., a Minor Child, 2021 MT 316N (Mont. 2021).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(b) — 4 cases
Marriage of Solem, 2020 MT 141 (Mont. 2020).
In Re the Parenting of R.J.N., 2017 MT 249 (Mont. 2017).
Marriage of Williams, 2020 MT 186N (Mont. 2020).
Larrivee v. Gardner, 2021 MT 173N (Mont. 2021).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(c) — 10 cases
In re Bessette, 434 P.3d 894 (Mont. 2019). “§ 40-4-220(2)(ii), the [c]ourt has the authority to grant a temporary order providing for living arrangements for the child ex parte as an emergency situation has arisen in the child's present environment that endangers the child's physical, mental, and emotional health and an…”
In Re the Marriage of Wang, 896 P.2d 450 (Mont. 1995).
Marriage of Solem, 2020 MT 141 (Mont. 2020).
Parenting of D.C.N.H., 2020 MT 119 (Mont. 2020).
Parenting of A.J.B., a Minor Child, 2021 MT 316N (Mont. 2021).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(d) — 7 cases
In Re the Parenting of G.M.O., 2017 MT 116 (Mont. 2017).
Parenting of D.C.N.H., 2020 MT 119 (Mont. 2020).
Marriage of Persoma, 2021 MT 89N (Mont. 2021).
Larrivee v. Gardner, 2021 MT 173N (Mont. 2021).
In re Herrera, 430 P.3d 85 (Mont. 2018).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(e) — 3 cases
Marriage of Solem, 2020 MT 141 (Mont. 2020).
Larrivee v. Gardner, 2021 MT 173N (Mont. 2021).
Marriage of Anderson, 2025 MT 16N (Mont. 2025).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(f) — 4 cases
In re Kesler, 427 P.3d 77 (Mont. 2018). “Those findings were not discussed further or relied upon when the court applied the statutory factors under § 40-4-212, MCA, in determining the best interest of the child.”
Marriage of Solem, 2020 MT 141 (Mont. 2020).
In Re the Parenting of A.P.V.W., 2022 MT 159N (Mont. 2022).
Marriage of: Murphy, 2026 MT 48 (Mont. 2026).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(g) — 1 case
Marriage of Sanner, 2001 MT 24N (Mont. 2001).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(h) — 7 cases
Marriage of Taylor, 2023 MT 189N (Mont. 2023). “John responds that the District Court carefully considered the factors in § 40-4-212, MCA, and relied on substantial credible evidence to determine that the children’s best interests will be served by residing with him during the school week and with Dawn on the weekends.”
Paternity of C.T.E.-h., 2004 MT 307 (Mont. 2004). “In the case at hand, there was no FPP modification, and therefore the District Court needed only to determine whether the FPP was in the “best interest of the child.”
In re Herrera, 430 P.3d 85 (Mont. 2018).
Marriage of O Connor, 2018 MT 39N (Mont. 2018).
Larrivee v. Gardner, 2021 MT 173N (Mont. 2021).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(i) — 2 cases
Marriage of Taylor, 2023 MT 189N (Mont. 2023). “John responds that the District Court carefully considered the factors in § 40-4-212, MCA, and relied on substantial credible evidence to determine that the children’s best interests will be served by residing with him during the school week and with Dawn on the weekends.”
In re Herrera, 430 P.3d 85 (Mont. 2018).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(l) — 6 cases
In Re The Marriage of: Boeshans, 2025 MT 187 (Mont. 2025).
Marriage of: Cool, 2026 MT 38N (Mont. 2026).
Marriage of Drumheller, 2025 MT 69N (Mont. 2025).
Marriage of Clayton, 2004 MT 110N (Mont. 2004).
Marriage of King, 2012 MT 135N (Mont. 2012).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1)(m) — 1 case
Marriage of Marez & Marshall, 2014 MT 333 (Mont. 2014).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(1X1) — 4 cases
Marriage of Woerner v. Woerner, 2014 MT 134 (Mont. 2014). “” Section 40-4-212(1), MCA. The statute directs the district court to consider “all relevant parenting factors.”
Marriage of Guffin v. Plaisted-Harman, 2010 MT 100 (Mont. 2010).
In Re the Parenting of M.C., 2015 MT 57 (Mont. 2015).
Wendlandt v. Johnson, 2012 MT 90 (Mont. 2012).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(2) — 1 case
Milanovich v. Milanovich, 655 P.2d 959 (Mont. 1982).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(3) — 10 cases
Marriage of Speer v. Speer, 654 P.2d 1001 (Mont. 1982).
Markegard v. Markegard, 616 P.2d 323 (Mont. 1980). “The mother contends that the trial court erred in the following respects: (1) that the trial court ignored the relevant factors in section 40-4-212, MCA, with regard to a determination of custody; (2) that the trial court failed to properly consider the presumption that a mother…”
In Re the Marriage of Cole, 729 P.2d 1276 (Mont. 1986).
In Re the Marriage of Keating, 689 P.2d 249 (Mont. 1984).
In Re the Marriage of Nalivka, 720 P.2d 683 (Mont. 1986).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(3)(a) — 10 cases
In Re the Custody of D.M.G., 1998 MT 1 (Mont. 1998). “This subsection of § 40-4-212, MCA, was repealed by the 1997 Legislature effective October 1, 1997.”
In Re Marriage of Abrahamson, 924 P.2d 1334 (Mont. 1996).
Czapranski v. Czapranski, 2003 MT 14 (Mont. 2003). “Should this Court adopt a heightened standard of review when reviewing a district court’s custody decision in a dissolution proceeding? ¶13 Julie argues that the above-stated standard of review should be reexamined and heightened, requiring that a district court’s discretion be…”
Custody of Arneson-Nelson, 2001 MT 242 (Mont. 2001).
In Re the Marriage of Robison, 2002 MT 207 (Mont. 2002).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(3)(b) — 1 case
Parenting of Vranish, 2002 MT 138N (Mont. 2002).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(4) — 5 cases
Markegard v. Markegard, 616 P.2d 323 (Mont. 1980). “The mother contends that the trial court erred in the following respects: (1) that the trial court ignored the relevant factors in section 40-4-212, MCA, with regard to a determination of custody; (2) that the trial court failed to properly consider the presumption that a mother…”
Parenting of Z.D.L.-B. v. Batey, 2016 MT 164 (Mont. 2016).
In Re Custody of Andre, 761 P.2d 809 (Mont. 1988).
Andre v. Dobson, 761 P.2d 809 (Mont. 1988).
Johnson v. Batey, 375 P.3d 378 (Mont. 2016).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(4)(a) — 3 cases
Parenting of Z.D.L.-B. v. Batey, 2016 MT 164 (Mont. 2016).
Johnson v. Batey, 375 P.3d 378 (Mont. 2016).
In re L.G.L., 430 P.3d 999 (Mont. 2018).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(4)(b) — 4 cases
Marriage of Marez & Marshall, 2014 MT 333 (Mont. 2014).
Parenting of Z.D.L.-B. v. Batey, 2016 MT 164 (Mont. 2016).
Johnson v. Batey, 375 P.3d 378 (Mont. 2016).
Parenting of A.M.B., 2025 MT 270 (Mont. 2025).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(5) — 2 cases
Markegard v. Markegard, 616 P.2d 323 (Mont. 1980). “The mother contends that the trial court erred in the following respects: (1) that the trial court ignored the relevant factors in section 40-4-212, MCA, with regard to a determination of custody; (2) that the trial court failed to properly consider the presumption that a mother…”
Milanovich v. Milanovich, 655 P.2d 959 (Mont. 1982).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(6) — 1 case
In Re the Marriage of Penning, 776 P.2d 1214 (Mont. 1989).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(a) — 4 cases
In Re the Marriage of Bolt, 854 P.2d 322 (Mont. 1993).
In Re the Marriage of McLean, 849 P.2d 1012 (Mont. 1993).
In Re the Marriage of Johnston, 843 P.2d 760 (Mont. 1992).
In Re the Marriage of Strizic, 867 P.2d 386 (Mont. 1994).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(b) — 2 cases
In re Williams, 425 P.3d 1277 (Mont. 2018). “¶ 8 In pertinent part, § 40-4-212, MCA, provides: (1) The court shall determine the parenting plan in accordance with the best interest *1280 of the child.”
In Re Marriage of Bukacek, 907 P.2d 931 (Mont. 1995).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(c) — 2 cases
In Re the Marriage of Bolt, 854 P.2d 322 (Mont. 1993).
Catalino v. Fredericksen, 2016 MT 144N (Mont. 2016).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(e) — 5 cases
In Re the Marriage of Bolt, 854 P.2d 322 (Mont. 1993).
Maxwell v. Maxwell, 810 P.2d 311 (Mont. 1991).
In Re the Marriage of Wilson, 2009 MT 203 (Mont. 2009).
Parenting of H.R.H-H., 2023 MT 52N (Mont. 2023).
Marriage of Virga, 2016 MT 269N (Mont. 2015).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(f) — 1 case
In Re the Marriage of Bolt, 854 P.2d 322 (Mont. 1993).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(g) — 1 case
Schiller v. Schiller, 2002 MT 103 (Mont. 2002).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(h) — 1 case
Marriage of Virga, 2016 MT 269N (Mont. 2015).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(j) — 2 cases
Paternity of C.T.E.-h., 2004 MT 307 (Mont. 2004). “In the case at hand, there was no FPP modification, and therefore the District Court needed only to determine whether the FPP was in the “best interest of the child.”
Parenting of K.P. v. C.P., 2005 MT 297 (Mont. 2005).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l) — 6 cases
In Re the Marriage of Chamberlin, 2011 MT 253 (Mont. 2011).
In Re the Marriage of Zuelke, 909 P.2d 684 (Mont. 1995).
Parenting of F.L.F.L.K., 2025 MT 41 (Mont. 2025).
Parenting of A.J.B., a Minor Child, 2021 MT 316N (Mont. 2021).
Marriage of James (Mont. 1996).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(a) — 5 cases
In Re the Marriage of Kovash, 858 P.2d 351 (Mont. 1993).
In Re the Parenting of M.C., 2015 MT 57 (Mont. 2015).
Parenting of Z.D.L.-B. v. Batey, 2016 MT 164 (Mont. 2016).
Marriage of Davis, 2016 MT 52 (Mont. 2016).
Johnson v. Batey, 375 P.3d 378 (Mont. 2016).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(b) — 1 case
In Re the Marriage of Klatt, 2013 MT 17 (Mont. 2013).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(c) — 5 cases
In Re Marriage of Baer, 1998 MT 29 (Mont. 1998).
In Re the Parenting of M.C., 2015 MT 57 (Mont. 2015).
Parenting of Z.D.L.-B. v. Batey, 2016 MT 164 (Mont. 2016).
Johnson v. Batey, 375 P.3d 378 (Mont. 2016).
In Re the Marriage of Pesanti, 2014 MT 324 (Mont. 2014).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(d) — 2 cases
Marriage of Woerner v. Woerner, 2014 MT 134 (Mont. 2014). “” Section 40-4-212(1), MCA. The statute directs the district court to consider “all relevant parenting factors.”
In Re Marriage of Baer, 1998 MT 29 (Mont. 1998).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(e) — 1 case
In Re the Parenting of M.C., 2015 MT 57 (Mont. 2015).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(f) — 1 case
In Re Marriage of Baer, 1998 MT 29 (Mont. 1998).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(h) — 5 cases
Paternity of C.T.E.-h., 2004 MT 307 (Mont. 2004). “In the case at hand, there was no FPP modification, and therefore the District Court needed only to determine whether the FPP was in the “best interest of the child.”
In Re the Marriage of Robison, 2002 MT 207 (Mont. 2002).
In Re the Parenting of M.C., 2015 MT 57 (Mont. 2015).
Parenting of Z.D.L.-B. v. Batey, 2016 MT 164 (Mont. 2016).
Johnson v. Batey, 375 P.3d 378 (Mont. 2016).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(i) — 3 cases
In Re the Marriage of Thorner, 2008 MT 270 (Mont. 2008).
In Re the Parenting of M.C., 2015 MT 57 (Mont. 2015).
Johnson v. Batey, 375 P.3d 378 (Mont. 2016).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(j) — 1 case
In Re the Parenting of M.C., 2015 MT 57 (Mont. 2015).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(k) — 1 case
Marriage of Woerner v. Woerner, 2014 MT 134 (Mont. 2014). “” Section 40-4-212(1), MCA. The statute directs the district court to consider “all relevant parenting factors.”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-212(l)(l) — 1 case
In Re the Marriage of Wilson, 2009 MT 203 (Mont. 2009).
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