Abstract
Past cases were reviewed to examine the courts' criteria for determining child custody. The criteria reviewed included maintenance of current living circumstances and mother's prioritization of their children, both of which are problematic in some ways. Through this review, I was unable to determine the optimal criteria for determining custody. This may be because the method currently employed involves direct interviews with parents and has little scientific objectivity. I therefore attempted to apply family systems theory as a means to determine custody. Specifically, I employed the psychological test, the Family System Test, as a method to compare family relations. I suggest that in law suits to determine custody, it is necessary to consider the meetings that occur between the non-custodial parent and child after the divorce is granted.
