Taking a look at statistics on child custody and support

If you are working through the process of getting a divorce and you have kids, it is vital to think about custody and support. Whether you seek full custody or intend to share custody with your ex, child custody arrangements could have a significant impact on your child’s life and your relationship with them. Moreover, a child support order could affect your finances and various aspects of your life. It is vital to prepare for these family law issues carefully.

Reviewing statistics on custody and child support helps provide parents with a better understanding of these topics. Moreover, you should realize that you are not alone and that many families find themselves in this position.

Reviewing data on child custody

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that during 2017, more than 25% of children under the age of 21 had a noncustodial parent living in another household. In 2018, more than 21 million children under 21 had parents living in other households and roughly 30% of these kids lived in poverty. This highlights how crucial child support is for many custodial parents and their children. Additionally, more fathers have become custodial parents. In 2018, fathers accounted for 20.1% of custodial parents.

Going over data on child support

In 2017, 69.8% of custodial parents owed child support received some payments. However, only 45.9% received the full amount owed. In 2017, noncustodial parents across the country owed roughly $30 billion in child support.

Parents fail to make child support payments for a host of reasons. Sometimes, the loss of a job or a medical crisis affects a parent’s finances. However, if you fall behind on child support, you could face harsh repercussions, such as the loss of your license, tax refund or passport.