If you have concerns about your ability to secure custody rights, review the ins and outs of your case carefully. If you are a father, do not assume that you are less likely to win a custody battle solely because of your gender. In recent years, more fathers are becoming custodial parents.
Courts review many factors when making custody decisions and in some instances, courts decide that awarding custody to a child’s father is in his or her best interests.
Reviewing the number of custodial fathers
A report published by the U.S. Census Bureau sheds light on statistics regarding custodial parents and their children during 2018. According to the Census Bureau, roughly 21.9 million kids under 21 had at least one parent living outside of their household in 2018. In fact, this figure accounts for 26.5% of all kids under the age of 21 in the U.S. Moreover, an increasing number of fathers have become custodial parents in recent years. During 1994, 16% of fathers were custodial parents. However, the number of custodial parents who were fathers increased to 20.1% during 2018.
Other statistics on custodial fathers
The Census Bureau also reports that custodial fathers were, on average, older than custodial mothers. Most custodial fathers (54.6%) were over the age of 40, while 41.6% of custodial mothers were over 40 in 2018. Custodial fathers were also more likely to have divorced and less likely to receive public assistance. Whether you are a father who has sole custody of your child or you are preparing for a divorce and have concerns about the outcome of a custody dispute, make sure you have a clear understanding of your rights and responsibilities.
