Child Custody Statistics 2004 Single Parent Families with Own Children Under 18 Source: U.S. Census, America’s Families and Living Arrangements 2004 Current Population Survey, March 2005. Table FG-6. Highlights and Notes:
The best estimator of F
is the percent of children in sole custody of fathers, because joint
physical custody assignments that are not 50/50 usually give the
majority of time to mothers. Father
sole custody families
historically have
been approximately 9% of single parent families, ranging up to 12% in
some estimates. If
the 9% estimate is used, the level of 50/50 custody for divorced
families is approximately 2(21 - 9) = 24%. If the level of father
sole custody families is 12%, then equal joint custody families are
approximately 18% of the total. (See chart below.) Levels of father sole custody
vary significantly with income, so the 9% - 12% range should not be
assumed for all income categories.
Current Population Survey, March 2005. Table FG-6. (Figures combine never married and divorced families; numbers in thousands) |
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