Recently, a software company that helps parents draft parenting plans conducted a review of the states to determine which are most likely to provide fathers with equal parenting time. It gathered information from family law professionals and researched court orders in an effort to assemble a detailed comparison. Only data that applied to the majority of parents was included, and situations where complications such as long distances applied were excluded in the report.

Once the company correlated all of its data, it was able to determine which states were failing to ensure that fathers were granted greater custody time. While there have been several states that have made revisions in their approach to determining custody, there are several states where fathers are only averaging around one-fifth of the time with their children compared to mothers. The company discovered that there are 20 states that grant parents shared custody in those cases where such a ruling was suitable.

Approximately 40 percent of all states have made changes that provide both parents more equal parenting time with their children. It is hoped that the state-by-state comparison will spur the remaining states to update their custody laws. Kentucky was the first state that recently made shared child custody the default in those cases where doing so will not be detrimental to children. Residents who are seeking a parenting plan that will best suit their unique needs may consult with a knowledgeable attorney who can help arrange the plan that will allow one’s children to thrive.