Co-Parenting App for Kansas Parents

What Kansas courts consider in custody decisions

Kansas enacted a presumption of equal parenting time in 2023, making it one of the strongest shared-parenting states. Courts consider each parent's involvement in raising the child, the desires of the parents, the child's wishes and emotional and physical needs, the child's interaction and relationship with parents and siblings, the child's adjustment to home/school/community, the willingness and ability of each parent to respect and appreciate the bond between the child and the other parent, evidence of spousal abuse, and the ability of each parent to encourage a relationship between the child and the other parent. The equal-time presumption can be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence showing it would not serve the child's best interests.

How the custody process works in Kansas

Kansas custody cases are filed in District Court. Under the 2023 equal parenting time law, the court starts from a presumption of roughly equal time with each parent and must make specific findings to deviate from that baseline. Mediation is not mandatory statewide but many judicial districts require it before a contested hearing. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the child's best interests and may order a custody evaluation by a qualified professional.

Key Kansas custody statutes

• Kan. Stat. § 23-3222
• Kan. Stat. § 23-3223
• Kan. Stat. § 23-3224