If you have kids, it is especially important to pay close attention to family law issues while working through your divorce and manage any hardships that arise later on with care. From child custody to support, multiple facets of family law involve children and affect their lives.
Reviewing statistics on child custody and parents in this position helps draw attention to some of the issues you could encounter and serves as a reminder that parents that many other parents are in this position.
Going over data on custodial parents
According to the United States Census Bureau, more men have become custodial parents in recent years. In 2018, fathers accounted for 20.1% of custodial parents, compared to 16% in 1994. During 2017, non-custodial parents owed child support to almost half of custodial parents (49.4%). However, only 45% of custodial parents supposed to receive child support received the full amount of support.
A look at statistics on children and custody
During 2018, roughly 21.9 million kids under the age of 21 in the U.S. had one of their parents living outside of the household. Moreover, data shows that the poverty rate was higher for children in this position. In households with only one of a child’s parents, the poverty rate was roughly 30.1%, compared to 11.1% for households in which both parents live.
These statistics highlight the importance of focusing on your child’s best interests during and after the divorce process, whether you secure full custody of your child or play a role in his or her life as a non-custodial parent.
