Brazil court grants shared custody to mother and godmother

A first‑instance court in Penha, Santa Catarina, ruled that a boy's mother and his long‑time godmother will share legal custody. The judge designated the godmother's home as the child's reference residence, citing the child's eight‑year stability there and the principle of the best interest of the child. While shared custody is normally limited to parents, Brazilian law permits exceptions when it serves the child's welfare. The mother will continue to be involved in the child's life and retain parental rights.

Separately, a university study from the Federal University of Ouro Preto examined Brazilian custody law, arguing that the current framework treats custody as a unilateral power of the guardian and often neglects the child's own legal personality. The authors propose a relational model that recognizes children's progressive autonomy and broader participation in decisions affecting them.