There is a movement these days that calls for shared parenting. This allows fathers equal rights when it comes to their children in the wake of a divorce or separation. Usually, when parents either separate or divorce, most courts award the mother full child custody while the fathers are reduced to the level of mere visitors in eight out of ten cases, according to recent studies.
This trend is found in most states in this country, including New York. A few years ago, it was found that between the years 2002 and 2012, one state’s custody cases resulted in the mother’s favor while 72 percent of fathers were allowed to see their children only five times per month. The struggle that many fathers often face in attempting to gain full custody has been supported by data from the U.S. Census, the results of which revealed that nearly 83 percent of custodial parents are, in fact, mothers.
However, the good news for fathers is that more and more people are becoming aware that this is an issue. Currently, there are 20 states that have supported the passing of a new bill for shared parenting this year. This is based partly on the results of a number of studies that have shown that shared parenting helps the children affected by the divorce in a multitude of ways, including positively affecting their mental and physical health.
Divorce in New York is rarely an easy matter for either party involved. It is made even more difficult and emotionally trying when there are children involved. When this is the case, those involved often consult a family law attorney who is experienced in handling child custody cases. Such experienced attorneys are able to best evaluate their clients’ cases, explain their options, represent their interests and defend their rights in the court of law.
Source: parentherald.com, “Shared parenting gaining support, equal-time child custody the new post-divorce arrangement“, June 19, 2015
