tender years doctrine

noun

A principle in family law, stating that a child's youngest years (generally regarded as four years and under) should be spent in the custody of the mother.

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Meanings

nountender years doctrine (plural tender years doctrines)

plural tender years doctrines

  1. lawA principle in family law, stating that a child's youngest years (generally regarded as four years and under) should be spent in the custody of the mother.
Cite this entry
APA

tender years doctrine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tender%20years%20doctrine

MLA

“tender years doctrine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tender%20years%20doctrine. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tender years doctrine,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tender%20years%20doctrine.

Source: tender years doctrine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.