§ 20-2-201 — Disposition and maintenance of children in decree or order; access to records

(a) In granting a divorce, separation or annulment of a
marriage or upon the establishment of paternity pursuant to W.S.
14-2-401 through 14-2-907, the court may make by decree or order
any disposition of the children that appears most expedient and
in the best interests of the children. In determining the best
interests of the child, the court shall consider, but is not
limited to, the following factors:
(i) The quality of the relationship each child has
with each parent;
(ii) The ability of each parent to provide adequate
care for each child throughout each period of responsibility,
including arranging for each child's care by others as needed;
(iii) The relative competency and fitness of each
parent;
(iv) Each parent's willingness to accept all
responsibilities of parenting, including a willingness to accept
care for each child at specified times and to relinquish care to
the other parent at specified times;
(v) How the parents and each child can best maintain
and strengthen a relationship with each other;
(vi) How the parents and each child interact and
communicate with each other and how such interaction and
communication may be improved;
(vii) The ability and willingness of each parent to
allow the other to provide care without intrusion, respect the
other parent's rights and responsibilities, including the right
to privacy;
(viii) Geographic distance between the parents'
residences;
(ix) The current physical and mental ability of each
parent to care for each child;
(x) Whether either parent has a conviction for which
the parent must register as a sex offender under W.S. 7-19-301
through 7-19-310;
(xi) Any other factors the court deems necessary and
relevant.
(b) In any proceeding in which the custody of a child is
at issue the court shall not prefer one (1) parent as a
custodian solely because of gender.
(c) The court shall consider evidence of spousal abuse or
child abuse as being contrary to the best interest of the
children. If the court finds that family violence has occurred,
the court shall make arrangements for visitation that best
protects the children and the abused spouse from further harm.
(d) The court shall order custody in well defined terms to
promote understanding and compliance by the parties. In
determining custody a court shall not favor or disfavor any form
of custody. Custody shall be crafted to promote the best
interests of the children, and may include any combination of
joint, shared or sole custody.
(e) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the
noncustodial parent shall have the same right of access as the
parent awarded custody to any records relating to the child of
the parties, including school records, activities, teachers and
teachers' conferences as well as medical and dental treatment
providers and mental health records.
(f) At any time the court may require parents to attend
appropriate parenting classes, including but not limited to,
parenting classes to lessen the effects of divorce on children.
(g) At anytime a court is considering the custody or
visitation rights of a service member, as defined by W.S.
20-2-205, the court shall comply with W.S. 20-2-205.
(h) A court finding of physical placement of a child in a
child support order shall not be considered a disposition of
custody under this section.