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tender years doctrine  

Definition

  • From the early 1800s through the 1970s, the tender years doctrine (TYD) was a majority-rule presumption in U.S. child custody cases that mothers, unless judicially determined to be unfit, should be granted custody of their children during the child's formative years—generally, from birth through 6 years of age (or even as late as 16 years). [Source: The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia; Tender Years Doctrine]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/tender_years_doctrine

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