Tender years doctrine
Revision as of 01:08, 6 December 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 as it is natural for a young child to be with their mother. The doctrine often arises in divorce proceedings.
Many countries have officially abolished the doctrine but continue to follow it in practice.