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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Recurso digital |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Zenodo
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17938401 |
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Table of Contents:
- <p>Child custody adjudication remains one of the most complex and emotionally charged areas <br>of family law, often undermined by delay, high costs, inconsistent decision-making and limited <br>access to welfare-assessment expertise. These systemic weaknesses raise significant concerns <br>regarding justice delivery, particularly in jurisdictions experiencing infrastructural and <br>institutional strain, such as Nigeria. With growing global interest in the use of Artificial <br>Intelligence (AI) to improve judicial efficiency, questions emerge as to whether and how AI <br>can be ethically integrated into custody determinations without eroding the best interests of <br>the child principle. The aim of this study is to critically examine the potential role of AI in child <br>custody adjudication through a comparative analysis of Estonia and Nigeria. The objectives <br>are to assess existing custody dispute mechanisms, evaluate technological readiness, identify <br>key legal, ethical and socio-cultural challenges and propose pathways for responsible <br>adoption. Using a doctrinal and comparative methodology, the study finds that while Estonia’s <br>advanced digital ecosystem supports cautious AI experimentation, Nigeria requires <br>foundational reform in regulation, digitisation and public trust. The significance of the <br>research lies in providing evidence-based guidance for developing ethical, culturally attuned <br>and child-centred technological reform. The paper concludes that AI must complement, not <br>replace, human judicial discretion to preserve fairness, empathy and children’s rights.</p>