What are the Best Interests of the Children with Professor Stephanie Tang on The Divorce & Beyond Podcast #302

This week on Divorce & Beyond, Professor Stephanie Tang joins Susan Guthrie Esq. to explain what “in the best interests of the children” really means and why it’s not as simple as you think! One of the topics listeners have been reaching out about the most lately is “the best interests of the children” standard in family court. Professor Tang joins Susan to share the various factors that go into determining children's best interests and describes the impact of a judge’s discretion. What seems like such a simple topic is truly the most complicated in family court custody hearings.  Stephanie L. Tang is an Assistant Professor of Law at Baylor Law School, teaching Family Law. Before joining Baylor, Professor Tang was a Partner at a family law firm in Chicago, where she specialized in all areas of family law. Topics and Golden Nuggets include: Where the “best interests of the child” standard originated Family court considerations of factors related to custody hearings What judges look at when it comes to a child’s professed wishes  Stephanie answers, “Can a parent request a change to custodial orders over time if they don’t agree with the best interests of children determination?”  Does the bearing of what a parent wants come into play? **************************************** About this week's special guest: Stephanie Tang Stephanie L. Tang is an Assistant Professor of Law at Baylor Law School, teaching Family Law. Before joining Baylor, Professor Tang was a Partner at a family law firm in Chicago, where she specialized in all areas of family law. She obtained multiple certifications as a mediator, fellow with Collaborative Divorce Illinois, and a Certified Financial Litigator with the American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators. Professor Tang received a B.A. in Psychology and Legal Studies with Honors from Northwestern University in 2012. She then graduated from University of Illinois College of Law in 2015, Magna Cum Laude with pro bono notation. Professor Tang is the current Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section Council. Learn more about Stephanie: https://www.baylor.edu/law/facultystaff/index.php Stephanie’s Best Interests of the Child and the Expanding Family article: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4390144 Read Stephanie’s other scholarly papers: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2508965 Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-tang/ Stephanie on Instagram: http://instagram/com/FamilyLawProf Stephanie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FamilyLawProf ***************************************** THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:   HELLO DIVORCE Your divorce, your way.  Say hello to an easier, kinder, and less expensive divorce.  They can handle almost every divorce without a court for thousands less than hiring a lawyer.  Easy, quick online divorce process  We review, file, and serve for you  Expert legal and financial help as you go  Get more information, resources, and support at hellodivorce.com/beyond and receive $100 off your service with the code BEYOND!  Visit hellodivorce.com/beyond for $100 OFF! ___________ HOLLIS HARDIMANRegardless of where you are in the divorce process, Hollis can provide the insights and tools to make informed decisions and secure your financial future.  Schedule your complimentary consultation with Hollis by emailing [email protected]. Be sure to tell her you heard about her on Divorce & Beyond.  ********************************************************************* SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE!  https://divorcebeyond.com/Sponsorship-Info ******************************************************************* MEET OUR CREATOR AND HOST: SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is the Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Reso