best interests
Someone's optimal outcome
Best interests refers to what most benefits or serves someone's welfare, especially when that person cannot decide for themselves.
The phrase dominates legal and medical contexts: courts determine a child's best interests in custody disputes; doctors act in a patient's best interests when the patient is incapacitated.
It's in your best interests to cooperate.
The plural "interests" is fixed—"best interest" sounds off to most ears.
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
- behalfInterest or benefit
- beneficenceActive desire to help
- in good faithWith honest intention
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
guide · fiduciary duty · child welfare · guardianship · sake · altruism · shield · duty of care · looking out for · at heart · due process · informed consent · advocate · fairness · motive · shelter · greater good · human rights
- parental rightsparental rights, parental authority, parental responsibility, parental responsibilities, parental consent
- children's rightschildren's rights, child rights, child protection, child welfare, child advocacy
- custodychild custody, joint custody, custody agreement, custody schedule, custody evaluation
- custody courtcustody agreement, custody dispute, custody evaluation, joint custody, legal custody
- custody lawchild custody, custody order, custody laws, joint custody, sole custody
- fiduciary dutiesduty of care, good faith, prudence, diligence, full disclosure
best interestsdetriment
Cause of damage
harm · disadvantage · damage · injury · prejudice
best interestsself-interest
Concern for personal advantage
ulterior motives · vested interests · hidden agenda · exploitation · malicious intent