Establishes presumption of joint legal and physical custody in child custody matters.

S 163 establishes that New Jersey courts must presume joint legal and physical custody is in a child's best interest, meaning both parents share major decisions about the child's health, education, and welfare, and the child spends roughly equal time with each parent. To override this presumption, a parent must provide clear and convincing evidence that joint custody would harm the child. If the presumption is rebutted, courts may award sole custody, modified joint custody, or another arrangement based on the child's best interests. The bill requires courts to document the reasoning for any custody decision that deviates from the joint custody presumption.