Getting divorced as a parent can raise many concerns, and if you have kids you likely need to review many different issues related to child custody, child support and how the end of your marriage could impact your child. You should realize that you are not alone, and if your marriage is toxic you should not feel guilty about moving forward in your life.
It is important to prioritize your child’s well-being and understand your options, whether you expect to secure full custody, share custody with your child’s other parent or spend time with your child in accordance with a parenting time order.
Statistics on children and custodial parents
The U.S. Census Bureau has published information on custodial parents and their kids. According to data from 2018, 26.5% of children in the U.S. had a parent living outside of their home (roughly 21.9 million children). In addition, the number of custodial fathers has gone up. In 1994, fathers made up 16% of custodial parents, which increased to 20.1% during 2018.
Nearly half of custodial parents had child support arrangements (legal or informal) during 2018. However, only 45.9% of custodial parents received the full amount of child support owed. Unpaid child support can lead to financial hardships for custodial parents and serious penalties for non-custodial parents.
Focusing on custody issues during divorce
When you end your marriage as a parent of minor children, you need to carefully go over many issues related to child custody. Make sure you stand up for your rights and take steps to secure the most favorable outcome in court. The outcome of a custody dispute could affect your child and your relationship with your child for many years.