Shared Parenting.

SB 162 establishes a rebuttable presumption that joint custody and shared parenting - where a child spends near-equal time with both parents - is in the best interest of the child. It requires North Carolina courts to consider 11 specific factors (including domestic violence history, child's wishes, and parental cooperation) when determining custody, while mandating mediation for custody disputes before hearings unless waived. The bill does not override safety concerns; courts must protect children and victims of domestic violence, and a parent's absence due to domestic violence cannot be used against them in custody decisions. It directly affects families involved in custody cases and alters how courts evaluate parenting arrangements. The law becomes effective upon enactment.