How do parents experience family court?
What is the emotional impact of custody matters on the parent?
How are parents impacted financially?
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View graphs and summary responses from the first 507 parents!
Who is taking the survey?
Parents currently involved in custody matters and parents with previous custody matters.
Link to survey: Family Court Parental Financial/Emotional Experience Assessment
California
Michigan
Iowa
Survey Results for 507 Parents
Demographic Questions
Total number of parents=507
Number of parents with a current custody matter: 334 (66.4%)
Number of parents with a previous custody matter: 169 (33.6%)
4 parents did not answer the question
Age
507 of 507 participants responded to this question
Sex
503 of 507 participants responded to this question
Race/Ethnicity
507 of 507 participants responded to this question
Marital Status
507 of 507 participants responded to this question
Relationship Status
506 of 507 participants responded to this question
Filing Status
500 of 507 participants responded to this question
| Number of participants | % | ||
Current Custody Mattter (n=329) |
Petitioner | 142 | 43.2 |
| Respondent |
191 | 58.1 | |
Parents with a previous custody matter |
Petitioner | 62 | 37.13 |
| Respondent | 105 | 62.87 |
Legal Representation Utilized
487 of 507 participants responded to this question
Disposition of Custody Matter
Number of parents reporting their custody matter as “Conflictual at the Onset” and “Conflictual currently”:
| Number of participants | % | |
Parents with a current custody matter |
234 | 46.4 |
Parents with a previous custody matter |
110 | 21.8 |
Note: 160 out of 504 parents indicated a positive experience
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Level of Education
506 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Employment Status
501 of 507 participants responded to this question
Place of Residence
496 of 507 participants responded to this question
Currently or Previously Involved in Custody Matter
503 of 507 participants responded to this question
Custody Matter Questions
Children Involved in Custody Matter
404 of 507 total number of participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 263 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 141 participants
Parents describe the relationship with their child BEFORE the custody matter.
Current Custody Matter: Word cloud for 263 parents
Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
122 of 140 parents, 87.14%, who answered this question indicated a “VERY CLOSE” relationship with their child BEFORE the custody matter.
LOVE WILL PREVAIL!
Three Words to Describe the Parent-Child Relationship BEFORE Custody Matter
LOVE: Top word for describing the relationship with their child AFTER the custody matter began
| Number of participants | % | |
Parents with a current custody matter |
262 | 66.2 |
Parents with a previous custody matter |
134 | 33.8 |
Current Custody Matter: Word cloud for 262 parents
Previous Custody Matter: Word cloud for 134 parents
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Temporary Orders for Legal and Physical Custody
Total number of participants answering this question: 404
Current Custody Matter: 270 participants
56 parents, 20.4%, received Equal Legal, and Physical Custody.
76 parents, 28.15%, received Legal Custody, and less than 50% Physical Custody.
26 parents, 9.63%, received no Legal Custody, and some Physical Custody.
Previous Custody Matter: 134 participants
34 of 141 responses, 24.11% indicate receiving equal legal, and physical custody
39 of 141 responses, 27.7% state receiving legal custody, and less than 50% physical custody
16 of 141 responses, 11.35% indicate receiving No Legal Custody and No Physical Custody
Final Court Orders for Legal and Physical Custody
382 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 252 participants
30 parents, 11.9%, received equal legal, and physical custody.
70 parents, 27.78%, received legal custody, and less than 50% physical custody.
30 parents, 11.9%, received no legal custody and some physical custody.
Previous Custody Matter: 130 participants
26 of 130 responses, 20%, indicated receiving equal legal custody, and physical custody
43 of 130 responses, 33.08% stated receiving legal custody, and Less than 50% physical custody
25 of 130 parents, 19.23% reported receiving No Legal Custody and No Physical Custody
Legal Representation at Final Court Ruling
392 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 259 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 133 participants
Satisfaction with Parenting Time Arrangement
408 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 268 participants
194 of 268 parents, 72.12% indicated they were VERY DISSATISFIED with the parenting time arrangement
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Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
88 of 140 parents, 62.86% reported feeling VERY DISSATISFIED with the court ruling
Level of Compliance with Parenting Time
Current Custody Matter: 272 participants
Previous Custody Matter: Not applicable
Co-parent Engaged in Activities to Change Custody Outcome
399 of 507 participants answered this question
Current Custody Matter: 265 participants
205 of 265 parents, 77.4% claimed their co-parent engaged in activities to alter the custody outcome
157 of 258 parents, 60.85% stated ‘no contact with their child’ due to the above activities.
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Previous Custody Matter: 134 participants
85 of 134 parents, 63.43%, reported their co-parent engaged in activities to change the custody outcome.
Ramifications of False Allegations
388 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter for 258 participants
Previous Custody Matter for 130 participants
Penalty for Non-Payment of Child Support
394 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 257 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 130 participants
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Custody Issues for going to Court
383 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter for 258 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 125 participants
Custody Matter Questions
Children Involved in Custody Matter
404 of 507 total number of participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 263 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 141 participants
Parents describe the relationship with their child BEFORE the custody matter.
Current Custody Matter: Word cloud for 263 parents
Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
122 of 140 parents, 87.14%, who answered this question indicated a “VERY CLOSE” relationship with their child BEFORE the custody matter.
LOVE WILL PREVAIL!
Three Words to Describe the Parent-Child Relationship BEFORE Custody Matter
LOVE: Top word for describing the relationship with their child AFTER the custody matter began
| Number of participants | % | |
Parents with a current custody matter |
262 | 66.2 |
Parents with a previous custody matter |
134 | 33.8 |
Current Custody Matter: Word cloud for 262 parents
Previous Custody Matter: Word cloud for 134 parents
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Temporary Orders for Legal and Physical Custody
Total number of participants answering this question: 404
Current Custody Matter: 270 participants
56 parents, 20.4%, received Equal Legal and Physical Custody.
76 parents, 28.15%, received Legal Custody and less than 50% Physical Custody.
26 parents, 9.63%, received no Legal Custody and some Physical Custody.
Previous Custody Matter: 134 participants
34 of 141 responses, 24.11% indicate receiving Equal Legal and Physical Custody
39 of 141 responses, 27.7% state receiving Legal Custody and less than 50% Physical Custody
16 of 141 responses, 11.35% indicate receiving No Legal Custody and No Physical Custody
Final Court Orders for Legal and Physical Custody
382 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 252 participants
30 parents, 11.9%, received Equal legal and physical custody.
70 parents, 27.78%, received legal custody and less than 50% physical custody.
30 parents, 11.9%, received no legal custody and some physical custody.
Previous Custody Matter: 130 participants
26 of 130 responses, 20%, indicated receiving Equal Legal and Physical Custody
43 of 130 responses, 33.08% stated receiving Legal Custody and Less than 50% Physical Custody
25 of 130 parents, 19.23% reported receiving No Legal Custody and No Physical Custody
Legal Representation at Final Court Ruling
392 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 259 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 133 participants
Satisfaction with Parenting Time Arrangement
408 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 268 participants
194 of 268 parents, 72.12% indicated they were VERY DISSATISFIED with the parenting time arrangement
.
Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
88 of 140 parents, 62.86% reported feeling VERY DISSATISFIED with the court ruling
Level of Compliance with Parenting Time
Current Custody Matter: 272 participants
Previous Custody Matter: Not applicable
Co-parent Engaged in Activities to Change Custody Outcome
399 of 507 participants answered this question
Current Custody Matter: 265 participants
205 of 265 parents, 77.4% claimed their co-parent engaged in activities to alter the custody outcome
157 of 258 parents, 60.85% stated ‘no contact with their child’ due to the above activities.
.
Previous Custody Matter: 134 participants
85 of 134 parents, 63.43%, reported their co-parent engaged in activities to change the custody outcome.
Ramifications of False Allegations
388 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter for 258 participants
Previous Custody Matter for 130 participants
Penalty for Non-Payment of Child Support
394 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 257 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 130 participants
.
Custody Issues for going to Court
383 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter for 258 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 125 participants
Financial Matters
Amount of Money Spent on Legal Fees
411 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 271 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
Annual Income
409of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 268 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 141 participants
Contributors to Household Income
272 of 362 participants in a current custody matter responded to this question.
Question was not posed to parents with a previous custody matter.
Number of participants who answered this question: 272
Other Sources of Income
264 of 273 current custody matter participants responded to this question.
Question was not posed to previous custody matter participants.
Current Custody Matter: 264 participants
Worked More Than One Job or Overtime
404 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 264 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
85 of 140 parents, 60.28% reported working more than one job/overtime to cover legal fees and living expenses.
Financial Resources Used
414 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 273 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
Living Situation
413 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 273 participants
Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
Selling Items to Cover Legal Fees and Living Costs
411 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 268 participants
199 of 268 parents, 74.25% indicated selling items to cover legal costs and living expenses.
Previous Custody Matter: 136 participants
94 of 136 parents, 69.22%, reported selling items to cover legal fees and living expenses.
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Current Financial Situation
395 of 507 participants responded to this question411 of 507 participants responded to this question
Current Custody Matter: 262 participants
127 of 262 parents, 48.47% stated they “FEEL OVERWHELMED” about their financial situation.
Previous Custody Matter: 133 participants
53 of 133 parents, 39.8% stated they “FEEL OVERWHELMED” about their financial situation.
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Additional Financial Details for Parents with a Previous Custody Matter
Currently Owe Money and Accrued Debt
Previous Custody Matter: 140 participants
70 of 140 parents, 50%, stated they currently owe money for legal fees and living expenses.
Previous Custody Matter: 108 participants
52 of 140 parents, 37.14% indicate paying on legal fees for 2 to 5 years
37 of 140 parents, 26.43% claim making payments toward the debt for 5-10 years
Emotional and Psychological Functioning
Depression and Anxiety
390 of 507 participants responded to this question
390 of 507 participants responded to this question
391 of 507 participants responded to this question
391 of 507 participants responded to this question
389 of 507 participants responded to this question
390 of 507 participants responded to this question
391 of 507 participants responded to this question
390 of 507 participants responded to this question
390 of 507 participants responded to this question
391 of 507 participants responded to this question
390 of 507 participants responded to this question
391 of 507 participants responded to this question
391 of 507 participants responded to this question
390 of 507 participants responded to this question
391 of 507 participants responded to this question
386 of 507 participants responded to this question
Social and Daily Functioning
380 of 507 participants responded to this question
380 of 507 participants responded to this question
379 of 507 participants responded to this question
379 of 507 participants responded to this question
378 of 507 participants responded to this question
379 of 507 participants responded to this question
381 of 507 participants responded to this question
Stress
Psycho-Social and Daily Functioning
379 of 507 participants responded to this question
378 of 507 participants responded to this question
378 of 507 participants responded to this question
379 of 507 participants responded to this question
Comment by Participants
351 of 507 participants responded to this question
351 of 507 participants responded to this question
Q85 Describe how your custody matter has impacted you and the relationship with your child:
Note: Participants responded to this question in sentences and data needs to be organized before reporting.
4-Digit Code
Question 86: 258 participants provided a 4-digit code for linking future surveys.
Link to take survey:
Nichols’ Family Court Parental Financial/Emotional Assessment
Thank you for participating!
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