As the famous Bob Dylan song goes, “The times they are a-changin’.” So too is the matter of joint child custody, which is more common now than ever before thanks to new perspectives.
Roles aren’t always what they used to be. There’s plenty of stay-at-home dads nowadays helping to raise their kids, and there’s numerous moms in the workforce who are the breadwinners for their families. Shifts in societal views on gender and parenting roles have persuaded many courts to be more open-minded and to give neutral consideration for the rights of both parents, including those of the father. In fact, Minnesota courts often prefer joint custody arrangements because it gives both parents the opportunity to be active in their child’s lives.
During at least the last decade or so, generally speaking, fathers have been increasingly more likely to win more equitable custody of their kids — 50-50 parenting time, or at least close to it. Although the old stereotypes might still persist in some worried fathers’ minds, the reality is that dads do stand a good chance against moms in divorce proceedings. They can even win sole custody in some situations when the mother is considered an unfit parent due to safety concerns or psychological issues, for example.
If you are a father seeking custody of your child or a change to your parenting agreement, an experienced Minnesota attorney can explain your legal options and fight on your behalf so you may get more of the parenting time you deserve.