If you are going through a divorce in Texas, you know how tricky navigating child custody can be. For fathers, the path to sole custody can seem even more difficult, if not impossible. Many fathers have been left wondering if there is any way they can become the sole caregiver for their children.
According to USA Today, many states are making the shift to more father-friendly custody decisions. One of the toughest aspects of a court case is that, while state laws may change, each case will be individually decided by the judge assigned to you. Still, research shows that the number of fathers given sole custody is increasing as more and more people become aware of the equal rights that both parents should have.
Between 1986 and 2008, parents who were given equal shared custody rose from a mere 5 percent to 27 percent. During the same years, the number of mothers who were given sole custody decreased from a majority 80 percent to a more equal 42 percent. The courts are moving to give both parents an equal amount of custody, a change that also allows fathers to have a greater chance at securing full care of their children.
One of the reasons that you are now more likely to get sole custody than ever before is that fathers are being seen as more capable, caring parents. Whether you stay at home and take care of your children or go to work to provide financially for your family, the increasing number of stay-at-home dads has made sole custody more likely and possible. This information is intended for your education and should not be taken as legal advice.