Fathers maintain a challenging task of financially supporting their children through their jobs and finding time in the week to spend time with them. These are two of the most important factors when determining child custody, as courts judge both parents based on their living conditions and the quality of their relationship with their children.
A recent study shows that it is easier to accomplish this in certain states. The personal finance website WalletHub ranked each of the 50 states and the District Columbia to determine the best states for working fathers. The states are ranked based on statistics revolving around a father’s economic and social well-being, work-life balance, child care, and health in each area.
How does Nebraska rank?
Nebraska came in 16th place out of the 51 options. It ranks higher than most of the other states because it excels in two of the indicators, but is held back due to low scores in the other two factors. Here is where it ranks around each of the criteria:
- Economic and social well-being: Nebraska ranks 10th for its average family income, unemployment, and poverty rate. The state also ties for first for the lowest unemployment rate.
- Work-Life balance:Nebraska ranks 26th for its parental leave policy score and average workday length.
- Child care:Nebraska ranks 31st for its child care costs and quality, amount of child workers and school system. The state previously placed in 30th for school system on the same site.
- Health:Nebraska ranks 8th for male life expectancy, suicide rate, physical and mental health.
How it affects custody.
While a healthy and financially stable father is crucial when raising children and determining custody, where the state ranks in work-balance life is concerning. Even though the state’s lowest ranking is with child care, it is the only criteria that is not gender specific.
Less time spent with the children gives Nebraska fathers a disadvantage in custody disputes. If fathers do not spend enough time with their children, then the mother has more potential to build a better relationship with the kids. The court could establish the mother being better for the well-being of the children because of their bond.
To eliminate this potential custody advantage, fathers should actively be searching for ways to balance their work and home life. The studies show that fathers have multiple areas of life to worry about when raising children, and it is essential for the future of both the father and the children to find a way to provide in all of them.