(150+)In the not-so-distant past, it was widely assumed that mothers received custody of children in divorces and fathers paid child support and visited the children every other weekend. In today’s world, however, families and their living situations are much more diverse, and fathers tend to be more involved in their children’s lives than in the past. Some fathers are the primary caregivers for their children, and other divorced parents share time with their children equally. If you are a dad who is going through a divorce, you need not be resigned to the traditional role of a largely absent father. Rather, you have the chance to be an integral part of your children’s lives, even after you are divorced.
Traditional Custody Arrangements
In South Carolina and most of United States, a divorce typically resulted in mom having custody and dad taking the kids for an occasional weekend visit. Plus, dad was often the primary breadwinner whose task it was to work and financially support the ex-wife and kids. Not only was this situation fundamentally unfair to fathers, it simply did not give fathers a chance to be truly involved in raising their children.
Evolving Custody Arrangements
In response to the modern world and the continually evolving role of fathers in their children’s lives, many states have enacted statutes creating a presumption that equal parenting time for divorced or separated parents is appropriate. Many jurisdictions have abandoned the term “visitation” altogether, in favor of terms that contemplate the involvement of both parents in their children’s lives, such as “parenting plans.” There is no longer the unwritten assumption that mothers always have primary custody of their children. Rather, there is a strong movement toward children spending roughly equivalent amounts of time with each parent, so that both parents are firmly involved in their lives.
Increasingly Flexible Child Support Orders
While the vast majority of child support payors still are men, an increasing amount of women are ordered to pay child support, either because they have a much higher income than their ex-partners, or because they do not have primary custody of their children. Similarly, when parents spend equal amounts of time with their children, and have roughly the same amounts of income in their households, many courts endorse and approve of arrangements that call for no child support orders at all. Rather, the court’s order or the parties’ agreement may allocate each parent’s responsibility for the various financial costs of raising children.
Call Elliott Frazier Law Firm, LLC for Help
Although times have definitely changed for the better, dads who are facing divorce still need strong advocates on their side to ensure that their interests are protected. Do not assume that you will not receive more time with your children or even an equal custody arrangement. Rather, allow us to work with you to create the strategy that is best designed to achieve your goals. Call the office of the Elliott Frazier Law Firm, LLC today and learn how we can assist you with your South Carolina divorce case.
