Tender years doctrine
Revision as of 00:50, 30 November 2022 by Robert Brockway (talk | contribs)
The tender years doctrine is a legal principle in family law since the late 19th century. In common law, it presumes that during a child's "tender" years (generally regarded as the age of four and under), the mother should have custody of the child. The doctrine often arises in divorce proceedings.
Many countries have officially abolished the doctrine but continue to follow it in practice.