Determining child custody is often a messy proposition that involves numerous people who want to be an active part in the life of a child. Some people think that the mother is always granted primary custody of the child while the father fights for the ability to see his child every other weekend. How is child custody usually split up for parents in California?
Does political affiliation matter?
According to a recently published study, states that typically vote for Republican candidates have been less likely to give both parents equal custody time. A father who lives in a “red state” typically sees his child 400 fewer hours a year than divorced fathers who reside in blue states.
Where does California rank?
According to the aforementioned study, California ranks 24th in terms of the percentage of time that fathers are granted in child custody. Since 20 states typically grant a true 50/50 split, the state of California comes in at 24th overall with 32.8%.
What does it all mean?
This 32.8% results in about 120 days per year for fathers who have gone through a divorce. While that number is certainly better than some other states that do not honor the rights of a father, there is still quite a bit of work to do. By comparison, the states that give the father 50% of the time with his child are giving fathers 63 more days every year.
Fathers in the state of California who want to fight for more child custody should contact an attorney who is familiar with the state’s family law system. This attorney may review the details of the divorce filing and work to prove that their client deserves more time with their child.
