VI.   Homo Sapien Life

Custody of a Youth is legal recognition of who is considered to have the rights of immediate charge and control in the capacity as guardian.

By default, both legal parents living together are recognized as guardians and therefore share common custody of a Youth. However, should a dispute occur between the legal parents, it shall be the right of a judicial authority to resolve any disputes concerning custody in accordance with these Canons.

All judicial authority concerning matters of resolving disputes concerning custody and the welfare of Youth is subject to these Canons.

Unlike other periods of age, separate and equal custody rights for each legal parent as a guardian exists at the age of Youth. Therefore, in the event of a dispute over custody, upon a Child becoming a Youth, both parents must be granted by a competent by judicial authority joint custody and equal access until the Youth becomes an Adult.

Joint custody and equal access shall apply to both legal parents unless one or more of the following conditions exist in which case sole custody shall be granted to the parent to whom such grave concerns do not apply:

(i) A history of diagnosed mental illness and evidence suggesting such a condition remains and may present a clear risk to the well being of the youth; or

(ii) A history of drug abuse and evidence suggesting such a condition remains and may present a clear risk to the well being of the youth; or

(iii) A history of physical abuse against children and evidence suggesting such a condition remains and may present a clear risk to the well being of the youth; or

(iv) A history of relationships with partners who are identified as having one or more of the above conditions and evidence suggesting such a relationship now exists and may present a clear risk to the well being of the youth.