Why More Fathers are Getting Custody

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for years you are very much aware that previously there was a major trend that revolved around mothers automatically be ing awarded custody in a divorce dispute. However, as the times have changed, so has this trend. Now in divorce settlements there are more fathers that are beco ming the primary caregiver for their children. But what has really sparked this? First, there is the movement to remove the "Tender Years Doctrine" from the cour ts. This theory has said that children, especially young children age 5 and youn ger would do better in the care of their mother no matter what. This has been pr oven wrong, and with the removal of this from courts, more fathers are able to f ight for custody. The reason for the removal is because many people now realize that women are not always the better parent. Additionally, more fathers are choosing to be a stay at home parent, which opens the door for those stay at home fathers to claim that they are the primary care giver for the children of a marriage. As we all know, the courts prefer to leave children with the primary caregiver if any way possible so that routines do not change much unless necessary. Therefore, with more fathers staying home this gi ves them a small advantage in their particular cases. Also helping fathers gain custody is the realization that children need their fa thers just as much as they need their mothers. The courts have started to realize that there are simply times when the father i s the better parent to handle the majority of the needs of the child. However, n ot all cases of the father winning custody involve a mother that is unfit, but i t is common. But just as some cases find a mother who is better suited to custod y, some cases find a father that is better suited as well. As you can imagine the cases of unfit mothers are also a help in fathers gaining custody. This is a situation that is often dragged out and quite painful in the courts however. Most people are not willing to readily accept yet that a mother is unfit. In addition, when they determine that a mother is unfit, they rarely award large amounts of visitation, as well as place restrictions on the visitati on, which create the room for further fights and arguments. This is never a good situation and should be avoided if any way possible. However, if the safety of the children is a concern, then be more concerned about their safety rather than going easy on your spouse. As you can imagine a father, being awarded custody is still relatively new. Many people start to automatically assume that the mother must have been awful to lo se custody. It is important to realize that this is not always the case. There a re just simply times where the father is the better parent for the daily task of raising the children. This does not mean that the mother is unfit. It is the sa me if the mother is awarded custody, it does not automatically mean that the fat her was unfit. If you are seeking custody, then it is a good idea to find a good lawyer who spe cializes in father's rights to help you. You may also want to find a father's ri

ghts group in your area. They are often a wealth of information on tips and sugg estions that can apply to your case based upon the judge hearing your divorce. D o realize that a father winning custody is still not standard practice, but it i s not impossible. Each year more fathers are being awarded custody and if you are a father, seekin g custody there is hope. Make sure you educate yourself on all of the processes and procedures for the custody hearings and make sure you are encouraging a rela tionship with your spouse and child. The courts always like to see a gracious pa rent win. Ensure that you help make it possible for your child to still maintain a close bond with the mother. This will often help gain you points in the judge 's eye. Dedicate yourself to the process and it is possible to win custody.