With a plethora of research proving that shared parenting is in the best interest of children everywhere whose parents are getting divorced, it may be surprising to some that it is not promoted further by state courts. In Wisconsin and many other states, some people are questioning whether or not lawmakers are doing enough to support a shared parenting initiative for children in households where their parents have divorced.
In a recent report run by the National Parents Organization, an unimpressive D+ was the most that a third of the states earned in terms of their effectiveness at promoting shared parenting plans. Grades were determined by comparing 21 different factors based on each state’s laws and views regarding child custody. States that talked openly about their desire for children to continue maintaining a relationship with both of their parents received a much higher score than those who did not.
The states with the highest scores were Kentucky and Arizona with New York and Rhode Island scoring the lowest. In the case of Kentucky, they achieved a high rating by automatically assuming a joint custody arrangement unless a desire for another option was explicitly stated by one of the involved parties.
When people are getting divorced, an attorney may be a valuable ally in protecting a parent’s wishes as child custody is negotiated. Legal professionals have experience and knowledge to understand state laws and help parents to make wise decisions that will benefit their children and allow them to continue to thrive despite a divorce.
Source: U.S. News, “Report: States Lack Laws to Support Equal Shared Parenting,” Casey Leins, Sept. 18, 2019