Key Points
- Equal or shared parenting is a type of joint physical custody arrangement where children spend substantial time with each parent. While the percentages vary, it is typically at least 30-35% with the non-custodial parent (NCP).
- It has become more popular as families moved from the traditional one wage earner, one caregiver family structure to one in which both parents share caregiving.
- National Parents Organization (NPO) is the largest national organization for shared parenting with affiliate groups in many states.
- NPO periodically releases state scorecards on shared parenting: 2014, 2019
- In 2017, Kentucky (HB528) became the first state to require shared parenting as a starting point for custody.
- In 2020, HB1140 was introduced in the George House of Representatives.
- In Arizona, William Fabricius has done some great work on shared parenting
Analysis
- Shared parenting embodies the American tradition in equality: Both parents, married or divorced, should have equal rights with their children unless there is a preponderance of evidence otherwise.
- Despite public support, the NPO scorecard illustrates that shared parenting has gained little traction in state legislatures to enact it as the presumptive custody arrangement.
- Opposition to shared parenting typically comes from two groups with very narrow perspectives: attorneys and feminist groups.
- We encourage people to look at the studies and decide for yourself. Here is a list of articles about shared parenting. When reading them, keep in mind who is the author and from what perspective (legal, etc) they have.
- When you look at the whole picture, children benefit when parents are encouraged to cooperate instead of an adversarial system in which parents are encouraged to fight.