Child Custody Factors

1. the wishes of the child's parents as to custody;
2. the reasonable preference of the child if the child is deemed to be of a sufficient age to express a preference;
3. the child's primary caretaker;
4. the intimacy of the relationship between each parent and the child;
5. the interaction and interrelationship of the child with a parent or parents, siblings and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests;
6. the child's adjustment to home, school and community;
7. the length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity;
8. the permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed home;
9. the mental and physical health of all individuals involved;
10. the capacity and disposition of the parties to give the child love, affection and guidance, and to continue educating and raising the child in the child's culture and religion or creed, if any;
11. the child's cultural background;
12. the effect on the child of the actions of an abuser, if "domestic abuse", as defined in section 518B.01 has occurred; and
13. except in the case where domestic abuse has occurred, the disposition of each parent to encourage and permit frequent and continuing contact by the other parent with the child. In addition to these factors, the court is required to consider whether there have been false allegations of child abuse in determining best interests of the child.

Joint Custody Factors

1. the ability of the parents to cooperate in the rearing of the their children;
2. methods for resolving disputes regarding any major decision concerning the life of the child, and the parents' willingness to use those methods;
3. whether it would be detrimental to the child if one parent were to have sole authority over the child's upbringing; and
4. whether domestic abuse, as defined in section 518B.01 has occurred.