How is child custody determined overall?
The state of Utah requires both parents to financially support the child(ren). They take into consideration the income of both of the parents and the number of children involved when determining child custody. Utah law establishes child support guidelines. The three factors of these guidelines are based on child support, childcare expenses, and medical expenses. The court will then determine the total support obligation for the child(ren). This is shared by the parents dependent upon their income. The parent who does not receive custody has to pay child support.
A survey on child custody time
Child custody is a tricky subject. After the divorce, the child has to often split their time evenly between their mother and father now. However, each state has their own specific laws. A study was conducted in June regarding child custody in each state. The purpose of the survey was to show the differences of awarded custody time in different states and get these states to consider changing their custody laws now that they have a better overview of how child custody is handled in other states. It was found that divorced dads in republican majority states received a lot less custody time than democratic or swing states. The survey conducted took 4 months. It was conducted by Custody X. The survey was based upon information from legal professionals on the most common schedule in their state. No consumer data was used. Utah, received a pretty low percentage at 26.2% while the national average was at 35%
Swing states had the highest amount at an average of 40.2%. For example, Florida and Colorado had the amount of custody time for dads at 50%. Even though Utah had a significantly low amount, Tennessee had the overall low for giving custody time to dads. They were at 21.8%. Custody schedules alone can be extremely difficult to compare. They are different and vary case by case based upon the situation. After seeing this data, states who did not provide equal custody may consider increasing custody time for dads after seeing this data. It’s important to note that divorce rates in Utah are higher than average. 3.6 out of 1000 Utah residents get a divorce. The national rate for divorce is 3.1 per 1000 residents. It’s also important to note that earlier this year a bill was passed regarding child custody. In split custody situations, the parent who had more time was allowed to make important decisions. These decisions include things such as the child(ren)’s primary residence as well as where they took their education. In split custody situations, the court made these important decisions about the child’s life.
DIscovering this data can be a huge eye-opener. We know that divorce can be extremely messy. Child custody can sometimes not be fair. If you’re a father in Utah now you can see that you receive less custody time than many other states. It’s unfortunate that your children have to be involved in this whole ordeal. Dealing with this can be very stressful. Courts may not really have the best interest of your children through your eyes, as we can see from the data. You need someone who has the experience and who will actually listen to your needs and concerns and fight for them. Emy A. Cordano has over 20 years of experience in family law. She’s handled the most complex cases. Make an appointment for a legal consultation through this contact form or call for a case review at (801) 901-8159.