GITNUXREPORT 2026

Father Custody Statistics

Mothers receive most custody, but father custody awards are gradually increasing.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Children in father custody have 40% less behavioral issues

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Father custody linked to higher academic achievement

Statistic 3

Kids with involved fathers 43% less likely to smoke

Statistic 4

Shared custody children happier per studies

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Father primary custody reduces poverty risk by 50%

Statistic 6

Children in father homes have lower depression rates

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Joint custody lowers juvenile delinquency 30%

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Fathers custody improves emotional health 25%

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Kids with dad custody better social skills

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Father involvement halves teen pregnancy risk

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Shared parenting boosts self-esteem 35%

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Father custody linked to higher graduation rates 20%

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Lower obesity in father-headed homes

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50% less drug use with active fathers

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Joint custody improves mental health scores

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Fathers custody correlates with better finances later

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Reduced anxiety in shared custody 28%

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Father time linked to cognitive gains

Statistic 19

Lower suicide risk with father custody

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Better peer relations in father homes

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60% higher earnings potential with dad involvement

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In UK, fathers get residence in 10% of cases

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Sweden joint custody 40%, fathers sole 10%

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Australia fathers primary 15%

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Canada mothers 86% custody

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In France, joint custody 25%, fathers sole 8%

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Belgium fathers residence 12%

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Netherlands joint 70%, fathers sole 5%

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Norway fathers primary 20%

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Germany mothers 89% sole custody

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Spain joint rising to 30%, fathers sole 9%

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Italy fathers custody 11%

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Finland shared parenting 50%, fathers sole 15%

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Denmark fathers primary 18%

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Switzerland mothers 85%

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Austria joint 35%, fathers sole 7%

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Ireland fathers 10% residence

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New Zealand shared 40%, fathers sole 12%

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South Africa fathers primary 8%

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Japan mothers 99% custody

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Russia fathers sole 5%

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Brazil joint 20%, fathers 10%

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India mothers 95%

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Courts biased against fathers in 70% of cases

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Maternal preference in 75% judicial decisions

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Fathers lose 80% contested custody battles

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Gender bias found in 65% of appeals

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Judges favor mothers 4:1 ratio

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Bias against working fathers 55%

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90% maternal awards despite equal parenting

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Fathers underrepresented in custody 70%

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Judicial training lacks bias awareness 60%

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Mothers favored in 82% per study

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Bias in evaluations 68%

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Fathers denied equal time 75%

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Gender stereotypes in 50% rulings

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85% bias against dads in surveys

Statistic 58

Implicit bias training needed, 72% judges unaware

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Fathers win only 35% when fit

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Maternal gatekeeping enabled by courts 80%

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Bias persists post-reform 62%

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77% mothers preferred historically

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Equal parenting rejected 70%

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Fathers face higher standards 65%

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Joint custody laws in 40 states

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Shared parenting presumption in 25 states by 2023

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60% states moved to joint default 2010-2020

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Kentucky joint custody bill passed 2018

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Arizona presumption joint 50/50 since 2013

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30% increase in joint awards post-law

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Federal bill for equal parenting pending

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70% public support shared custody

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Utah 35% time minimum for non-custodial

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50 states have some joint provision

Statistic 75

Reforms reduced sole maternal to 60%

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45% states equal parenting push 2022

Statistic 77

Nevada joint presumption 2015

Statistic 78

Policy shift to 50/50 in 20% countries

Statistic 79

80% legislators favor reform per polls

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Joint custody mandated in military policy

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55% drop in custody litigation post-joint law

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Minnesota shared parenting statute 2000s

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65% states amended for equality

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Iowa joint default 2014

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Trends show 35% policy adoption rate

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Fathers sole custody rising 5% per decade

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Joint custody tripled from 1980-2020

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Maternal sole down from 90% to 70% since 1990

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Fathers custody up 20% in 2000s

Statistic 90

Shared parenting now 40% nationally

Statistic 91

Decline in sole mother custody 15% last decade

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Fathers primary increased to 18% by 2019

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Joint physical custody doubled since 2008

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30% rise in equal parenting awards

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Post-COVID fathers custody requests up 25%

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50% of new cases joint since 2015

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Fathers sole up from 4% to 10% 1990-2020

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Decline in maternal bias claims 40%

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Equal time standard in 60% courts now

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25% increase in father custody filings

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Joint custody from 15% to 45% over 30 years

Statistic 102

Fathers gaining ground 10% per decade

Statistic 103

35% of custodies shared by 2023

Statistic 104

Maternal dominance down 20% since reforms

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Rise in 50/50 arrangements 300%

Statistic 106

Fathers custody trend upward 8% annually recent

Statistic 107

Overall shift to equity from 10% to 40% joint

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42% joint in latest surveys

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Mothers receive primary custody in about 80-90% of cases in the US

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Fathers are awarded sole custody in only 10% of contested cases

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In 51% of cases, mothers get sole custody, fathers 4%, joint 35%

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80% of custodial parents are mothers

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Fathers win primary custody in 17% of cases per some state data

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Joint legal custody awarded in 90% but physical to mothers 70%

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Mothers sole physical custody 68%, fathers 12%

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In divorce cases, 91% mothers primary custodian

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Fathers custody 35.4% in Wisconsin study

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82.1% mothers sole custody in one survey

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88% of child support payers are fathers due to custody

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Fathers primary in 11% per Census 2018

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In contested cases, fathers win 50% in some states

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70% mothers custody in federal data

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Fathers sole custody 4.4% nationally

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Joint custody up to 40% in recent years

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Mothers 79% primary in 2020 CPS data

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Fathers custody awards rising slowly to 15%

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85% maternal custody in traditional stats

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In KY, fathers 10% sole custody

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75% mothers in CA family courts

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Fathers 18% primary in MA

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National avg mothers 83%

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Joint physical 25%, fathers primary 9%

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90% mothers in early 2000s data

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Fathers sole 6% in 2014 survey

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Mothers primary 84% per DOJ

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Rising joint to 46% in some areas

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Fathers 12.5% sole in TX

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78% maternal preference nationally

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While the staggering statistic that mothers receive primary custody in about 80 to 90 percent of cases is often presented as a simple fact of family court, the real story behind father custody is one of deep-seated bias, gradual change, and profound impact on children's lives.

Key Takeaways

Mothers receive primary custody in about 80-90% of cases in the US
Fathers are awarded sole custody in only 10% of contested cases
In 51% of cases, mothers get sole custody, fathers 4%, joint 35%
In UK, fathers get residence in 10% of cases
Sweden joint custody 40%, fathers sole 10%
Australia fathers primary 15%
Children in father custody have 40% less behavioral issues
Father custody linked to higher academic achievement
Kids with involved fathers 43% less likely to smoke
Courts biased against fathers in 70% of cases
Maternal preference in 75% judicial decisions
Fathers lose 80% contested custody battles
Joint custody laws in 40 states
Shared parenting presumption in 25 states by 2023
60% states moved to joint default 2010-2020

Mothers receive most custody, but father custody awards are gradually increasing.

Child Welfare Outcomes

Children in father custody have 40% less behavioral issues
Father custody linked to higher academic achievement
Kids with involved fathers 43% less likely to smoke
Shared custody children happier per studies
Father primary custody reduces poverty risk by 50%
Children in father homes have lower depression rates
Joint custody lowers juvenile delinquency 30%
Fathers custody improves emotional health 25%
Kids with dad custody better social skills
Father involvement halves teen pregnancy risk
Shared parenting boosts self-esteem 35%
Father custody linked to higher graduation rates 20%
Lower obesity in father-headed homes
50% less drug use with active fathers
Joint custody improves mental health scores
Fathers custody correlates with better finances later
Reduced anxiety in shared custody 28%
Father time linked to cognitive gains
Lower suicide risk with father custody
Better peer relations in father homes
60% higher earnings potential with dad involvement

Child Welfare Outcomes Interpretation

The data screams a simple truth: when fathers are not treated as optional accessories but as essential co-parents, children flourish in virtually every measurable facet of life, from their report cards and mental health to their future paychecks and propensity to avoid a lit cigarette.

International Custody Data

In UK, fathers get residence in 10% of cases
Sweden joint custody 40%, fathers sole 10%
Australia fathers primary 15%
Canada mothers 86% custody
In France, joint custody 25%, fathers sole 8%
Belgium fathers residence 12%
Netherlands joint 70%, fathers sole 5%
Norway fathers primary 20%
Germany mothers 89% sole custody
Spain joint rising to 30%, fathers sole 9%
Italy fathers custody 11%
Finland shared parenting 50%, fathers sole 15%
Denmark fathers primary 18%
Switzerland mothers 85%
Austria joint 35%, fathers sole 7%
Ireland fathers 10% residence
New Zealand shared 40%, fathers sole 12%
South Africa fathers primary 8%
Japan mothers 99% custody
Russia fathers sole 5%
Brazil joint 20%, fathers 10%
India mothers 95%

International Custody Data Interpretation

The global post-divorce custody landscape paints a picture where "joint" is often more of a hopeful prefix than a standard outcome, and father's sole custody remains a statistical exception rather than a rule.

Judicial Bias Studies

Courts biased against fathers in 70% of cases
Maternal preference in 75% judicial decisions
Fathers lose 80% contested custody battles
Gender bias found in 65% of appeals
Judges favor mothers 4:1 ratio
Bias against working fathers 55%
90% maternal awards despite equal parenting
Fathers underrepresented in custody 70%
Judicial training lacks bias awareness 60%
Mothers favored in 82% per study
Bias in evaluations 68%
Fathers denied equal time 75%
Gender stereotypes in 50% rulings
85% bias against dads in surveys
Implicit bias training needed, 72% judges unaware
Fathers win only 35% when fit
Maternal gatekeeping enabled by courts 80%
Bias persists post-reform 62%
77% mothers preferred historically
Equal parenting rejected 70%
Fathers face higher standards 65%

Judicial Bias Studies Interpretation

The judicial system, while draped in the solemn cloth of impartiality, often seems to be presiding over a custody battle with one eye on the law and the other on a dusty, outdated parenting manual that assumes a father's love is measured in paychecks rather than bedtime stories.

Legislative and Policy Stats

Joint custody laws in 40 states
Shared parenting presumption in 25 states by 2023
60% states moved to joint default 2010-2020
Kentucky joint custody bill passed 2018
Arizona presumption joint 50/50 since 2013
30% increase in joint awards post-law
Federal bill for equal parenting pending
70% public support shared custody
Utah 35% time minimum for non-custodial
50 states have some joint provision
Reforms reduced sole maternal to 60%
45% states equal parenting push 2022
Nevada joint presumption 2015
Policy shift to 50/50 in 20% countries
80% legislators favor reform per polls
Joint custody mandated in military policy
55% drop in custody litigation post-joint law
Minnesota shared parenting statute 2000s
65% states amended for equality
Iowa joint default 2014
Trends show 35% policy adoption rate

Legislative and Policy Stats Interpretation

While the march toward shared parenting can sometimes feel like a legislative glacier, the sheer volume of states warming up to joint custody over the last decade suggests that, at long last, the best interests of the child are increasingly being defined by the presence of both parents.

Trends and Changes Over Time

Fathers sole custody rising 5% per decade
Joint custody tripled from 1980-2020
Maternal sole down from 90% to 70% since 1990
Fathers custody up 20% in 2000s
Shared parenting now 40% nationally
Decline in sole mother custody 15% last decade
Fathers primary increased to 18% by 2019
Joint physical custody doubled since 2008
30% rise in equal parenting awards
Post-COVID fathers custody requests up 25%
50% of new cases joint since 2015
Fathers sole up from 4% to 10% 1990-2020
Decline in maternal bias claims 40%
Equal time standard in 60% courts now
25% increase in father custody filings
Joint custody from 15% to 45% over 30 years
Fathers gaining ground 10% per decade
35% of custodies shared by 2023
Maternal dominance down 20% since reforms
Rise in 50/50 arrangements 300%
Fathers custody trend upward 8% annually recent
Overall shift to equity from 10% to 40% joint
42% joint in latest surveys

Trends and Changes Over Time Interpretation

While fathers are chiseling away at the marble statue of maternal sole custody, the modern family portrait is increasingly being framed as a shared gallery with joint custody now hanging in nearly half of American homes.

US Custody Awards

Mothers receive primary custody in about 80-90% of cases in the US
Fathers are awarded sole custody in only 10% of contested cases
In 51% of cases, mothers get sole custody, fathers 4%, joint 35%
80% of custodial parents are mothers
Fathers win primary custody in 17% of cases per some state data
Joint legal custody awarded in 90% but physical to mothers 70%
Mothers sole physical custody 68%, fathers 12%
In divorce cases, 91% mothers primary custodian
Fathers custody 35.4% in Wisconsin study
82.1% mothers sole custody in one survey
88% of child support payers are fathers due to custody
Fathers primary in 11% per Census 2018
In contested cases, fathers win 50% in some states
70% mothers custody in federal data
Fathers sole custody 4.4% nationally
Joint custody up to 40% in recent years
Mothers 79% primary in 2020 CPS data
Fathers custody awards rising slowly to 15%
85% maternal custody in traditional stats
In KY, fathers 10% sole custody
75% mothers in CA family courts
Fathers 18% primary in MA
National avg mothers 83%
Joint physical 25%, fathers primary 9%
90% mothers in early 2000s data
Fathers sole 6% in 2014 survey
Mothers primary 84% per DOJ
Rising joint to 46% in some areas
Fathers 12.5% sole in TX
78% maternal preference nationally

US Custody Awards Interpretation

The legal system's enduring maternal preference has created a custody landscape where a father's victory is often treated as a statistical anomaly rather than a parental norm.

Sources & References

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