40-4-222. Declaration of legislative intent -- joint custody. The legislature of the state of Montana finds and declares that it is the public policy of this state to assure minor children frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage and to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities of child rearing in order to effect this policy. The legislature believes that the district courts of the state of Montana have the authority to award joint custody if the court finds joint custody in the best interests of the children in the case then before the court. The intent of 40-4-222 through 40-4-225 is to establish certain guidelines for resolution of custody disputes.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 416, L. 1981.