Whether you make child support payments as a non-custodial parent or receive them as a custodial parent, it is helpful to review statistics on this issue. Make sure you have a clear understanding of your rights, duties and options, whether you want to enforce a custody order, your child’s other parent refuses to pay support or you need to modify your child support order because you lost your job.
Child custody and child support issues can have a significant impact on children and parents. If you face challenges due to family law issues during or after your divorce, identifying the best course of action is paramount. Sometimes, this could involve mediation and working through challenges with the other party outside of court.
Statistics on custodial parents
The U.S. Census Bureau says that in 2018, approximately 21.9 million kids under 21 did not live with at least one parent (26.5% of all kids under 21). Additionally, 49.4% of custodial parents had child support orders set up, including court orders and informal agreements. Data shows that many of these custodial parents did not receive the full amount of child support owed.
Statistics on child support
In 2017, 69.8% of custodial parents received some child support, but only 45.9% received the full amount due. Furthermore, 58% of custodial parents received non-cash support from non-custodial parents. On average, custodial parents received $3,431 in child support over the course of 2017.
Unpaid child support could leave you with serious financial hurdles as a custodial parent. Likewise, you could face devastating consequences if you do not abide by the terms of a custody order or fulfill your child support obligations as a non-custodial parent. This underlines the importance of addressing child support and child custody matters swiftly and appropriately.
