Des MoinesChild Support News Headlines

There Were 13.4 Million Custodial Parents In 2002

In the spring of 2002, an estimated 13.4 million parents had custody of 21.5 million children under 21 years ofage whose other parent lived somewhere else. About 5 of every 6 custodial parents
were mothers (84.4 percent) and 1 in 6 were fathers (15.6 percent), proportions statistically unchanged since 1994 (Table A).

Overall, 27.6 percent of all children under 21 living in families had a parent not living in the home. More custodial parents worked and participation in public programs was lower in 2001 than in 1993. Between 1993 and 2001, the percentage of custodial parents employed in fulltime, year-round jobs grew from 45.6 percent to 55.3 percent.

About 28.1 percent of custodial parents were in the labor force working part-time or partyear in 2001. Custodial mothers were more likely than fathers to work parttime, and their full-time, year-round employment increased from 40.9 percent to 52.3 percent in the 8-year span.

The full-time, year-round employment for custodial fathers reached a high in 1997 (76.9 percent), before falling to 71.7 percent in 2001 Rising employment rates of custodial parents were accompanied by declines in
public assistance program participation, which fell from 40.7 to 28.4 percent

Our Des Moines child support lawyers know and understand your worries and fears. Let them help you to take control. Contact one of our Des Moines child support lawyers today for a free evaluation of your case.

	Did You Know?
	Even if child support is not paid, visitation must be allowed. The issues of child visitation and child support are separate issues. Failure to pay child support is typically an insufficient reason to stop the right of the non-custodial parent to visit with his or her child. Visitation is normally ordered by a court in the best interest of the child to promote love and affection with both parents.