An Act relative to shared parenting

HD 3542 establishes a legal presumption in Massachusetts that parents should share both legal and physical custody of their children, unless a court makes specific written findings that shared custody would harm the child due to factors like abuse, neglect, or emergencies. This applies to all custody cases under Chapter 208 of the General Laws, requiring courts to prioritize frequent contact with both parents unless documented risks exist. The bill removes the prior requirement for parents to submit a shared custody plan to trigger this presumption and mandates that courts adjust child support orders if shared physical custody is ordered. It also eliminates the previous "no presumption" language for temporary custody, streamlining the process toward shared parenting arrangements.