Just 17% of separated parents in the United States share the parental rights. This despite overwhelming research which shows kids thrive when they’re parented equally by both parents.
Iowa is one of just six states with laws on the books promoting shared parenting. But it’s trickier when one of the parents live in another state. Another challenge is legal perception. When a custody battle goes before the courts, it can be hard sometimes to overcome the more traditional arrangements that judges and lawyers are used to. For more information on the issue of shared parenting, head to www.nationalparentsorganization.org