Across the nation, kids are waking up to a home with only one parent. Maybe that parent is lucky enough to have a job where they can get a healthy breakfast ready and prepare the school bags for the day’s events. However, in a lot of cases, these single-parent custodians are not so lucky.

When the divorce rate in the U.S. is roughly at half of all marriages, things can get out of hand quickly regarding where kids will live, who will take care of them, and what their future is going to look like.

The sad reality is divorce or separation can cause many issues to your children’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. As private investigators, our team at Privin Consulting Network knows how to uncover the reasons for wanting your kids away from your spouse, partner, or birth parent.

Whether addiction, physical safety, or emotional duress, we can investigate many things to ensure that whoever is raising your kid for whatever part of the week is looking after their best interest. Here are some key statistics to help you understand what could happen in a child custody investigation.

Top Child Custody Statistics to Know When Hiring a Private Investigator

  • On average, custodial parents receive $3,431 annually in child support. (Census.gov)
  • 40% of US states aim to give equal custody time to both parents. (DadsRights.org)
  • In 51% of custody cases, both parents agree that the mother should have custody. (HuffingtonPost)
  • As of 2020, the divorce rate in the US has declined to 2.3 per 1,000 residents. (Satista)
  • Over one-quarter of all children younger than 21 years of age (26.5%) had one of their parents living outside of their household in 2018. (Census.gov)
  • Slightly more than half (51.4%) of custodial mothers were employed full-time, year-round in 2017, while 21.6% did not have a job. (LegalJobs.io)
  • In 2015, 12.1% of child support agreements were informally established between the two parents. The remainder (87.9%) were the result of formal legal orders. (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • The top reason to ask for sole custody is to protect a child from physical harm. (Custody X Change)

On average, custodial parents receive $3,431 annually in child support.

Let’s get to the brass tax first. Child custody battles have just as much to do with financial support as with who gets to raise the child. Life is expensive, and you want to get funding to ensure you can help raise your kiddo. The average settlement agreement will result in $3,431 awarded to assist you in this mission.

The scary thing about this statistic is that only 60% of all spouses awarded funding will receive that money. Many dads and moms refuse or are incapable of paying, leaving you out in the cold when it comes time for braces.

40% of US states aim to give equal custody time to both parents.

It used to be that custody favored the woman (and still is in many cases). However, now that we have become more aware of the roles different parents can play at home, many states seek to give both parents equal custody so there is as little disruption to a child’s life as possible.

In many cases, this is fantastic for the child. They still get to experience life with two parents, even if they live with one more than the other. The challenge becomes building separate lives in relatively close proximity when you have to find a job, housing, and transportation.

In 51% of custody cases, both parents agree that the mother should have custody.

Even though states want to grant equal custody, the majority of cases end with the mother getting full rights. You can quickly come to a wide range of conclusions behind this child custody statistic. Everything can happen, from dads wanting to escape the reality of being a parent to a strong emotional connection with a mother.

As private investigators, we frequently uncover secondary relationships like a lover or family connection that take up the dad’s time. In some cases, that can include getting pressured not to be a full-time parent, so they have more time to spend with someone else.

As of 2020, the divorce rate in the US has declined to 2.3 per 1,000 residents.

Yes, divorce is growing less. People are experiencing fewer instances of divorce on average. At first, this makes you think kids are better off because parents are “pushing through” any challenges they are having to ensure children get the best possible life. 

The only problem here is marriages are also on the decline. The same resources point out that people are marrying at older ages or not at all. Even if they do have kids, the custody battle tends to be more about logistics than relationships. 

Over one-quarter of all children younger than 21 years of age (26.5%) had one of their parents living outside of their household in 2018.

Here is another reason for so many private investigations. Relationships are messy. All kinds of causes can get in the way of smooth communication. Everything from who you voted for in the last presidential election to how often you visit the local gym to see your “gym wife” can play a role in wanting to learn more about your partner.

Unfortunately, that leads the kids in question without two supportive parents. Those with one foot out the door will happily take a leap, so they don’t have to deal with the responsibility of raising a child. About a quarter of children under 21 years of age only get to experience life with one parent.

Slightly more than half (51.4%) of custodial mothers were employed full-time, year-round in 2017, while 21.6% did not have a job.

Sometimes, our private investigator team has to help with custody battles that involve in-depth financial matters. This is because there tends to be one person in the relationship earning more than the other. 

When the dust settles, custodial mothers are only employed full-time in about half the cases. Many do not have jobs but rely on state funding and spousal support to get by. This can be a rough situation and requires careful consideration of all the factors, including hidden assets your partner may have. 

It is sad that such a low number (12.1%) of all child support agreements are informally created. You should always have a legal document overseeing your arrangement – just in case. Formal legal orders offer clear guidelines for everyone involved and help avoid future issues.

You never know when something unwanted can sneak up. As private investigators, we can tell you it is tough to trust someone, even when there are years of history and a child between you. You never know when someone has a hidden bank account, a secret lover in a town away, or even more children you’ve never met. It’s better to get everything laid out by a judge.

The top reason to ask for sole custody is to protect a child from physical harm.

The goal of all custody battles would be to have the child shared equally by both parents, who can be fully trusted to treat them well every time they are in charge. The reality is much different. Parents are no different than anyone else. They can get angry, make mistakes, and sometimes harm those they care for.

Whatever the reason for the violence, it shouldn’t be allowed to continue. The number one reason for asking for sole custody in a child case is to protect the young one from continuing to live in a world where they experience physical harm.

Conclusion

Being a crack team of private investigators is not constantly uncovering secrets that make the world a better place. Sometimes, you learn about rough realities that can be incredibly dangerous to children.

Choosing which parent is best during a child custody battle is never easy, but you should be fully equipped with as much knowledge as possible before that day comes. Learning these child custody stats is a great way to build that foundation. Once you are ready, hire our team to ensure you get peace of mind that your spouse, partner, or one-night stand will do the right thing when it comes to your kiddos.