Custody for Fathers

13.4 MILLION

PARENTS HAVE FULL CUSTODY OVER CHILDREN

1 IN 6 OR 17.5%

ARE MEN GETTING FULL CUSTODY MORE OFTEN NOW?

• SURVEYS OF JUDGES IN ALABAMA, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, AND TENNESSEE SHOWED A CLEAR PREFERENCE FOR MATERNAL CUSTODY.
• ATTORNEYS SURVEYED FELT THAT JUDGES EXHIBITED PREJUDICE AGAINST FATHERS SOME OF THE TIME.
• MORE THAN 20 STATE LEGISLATURES, HOWEVER, CONSIDERED BILLS IN 2017 TO ENCOURAGE SHARED PARENTING OR MAKE THAT THE LEGAL PRESUMPTION, EVEN IN DISPUTED CASES.

WHICH STATES HAVE THE MOST FATHERS WITH FULL CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN?

22 STATES

WITH 50% CUSTODY FOR FATHERS

33.7% CUSTODY TIME

FATHERS ARE LIKELY TO RECEIVE FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN ALABAMA

POLITICS AND PARENTING

“RED” STATES HAVE BEEN MORE RELUCTANT TO MOVE TO SHARED CUSTODY TIME THAN “BLUE” STATES.

WHAT FACTORS MAKE MEN MORE LIKELY TO GAIN CUSTODY?

• THE CHILD’S WISHES (BASED ON AGE)
• THE CHILD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH PARENT
• THE FATHER’S ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO SPEND TIME WITH THE CHILD
• THE FATHER’S ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE CHILD FINANCIALLY
• THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD
• SAFETY OF THE CHILD (IN THE CASE OF ABUSE OR OTHER ISSUES)

WHAT ARE THE LIKELY TRENDS FOR FATHERS GAINING CUSTODY IN THE FUTURE?

25 STATES

CONSIDERED 50/50 SHARED PARENTING TIME IN 2017

35 STATES

CONSIDERED 50/50 SHARED PARENTING TIME IN 2018

SOURCES

https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo/P60-255.pdf

https://nationalparentsorganization.org/blog/22457-studies-show-judicial-bias-against-dads

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/more-than-20-states-in-2017-considered-laws-to-promote-shared-custody-of-children-after-divorce/2017/12/11/d924b938-c4b7-11e7-84bc-5e285c7f4512_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c0b2594004c9

https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-interests-of-the-child-standard-overview-2997765

https://www.custodyxchange.com/maps/dads-custody-time-2018.php

http://www.nprillinois.org/post/equal-parenting-time-proposal-stirring-debate-illinois#stream/0