Paul Horton: Moms Less Likely to Pay Child Support than Dads

A new study revealed some information that may have been surprising to some people: a higher percentage of non-custodial mothers fail to make their child support payments than non-custodial fathers.

According to the study, in 2011, approximately 32 percent of custodial fathers did not receive a single dollar of the total child support they were owed, compared to 25.1 percent of custodial mothers. On the flip side, 43.6 percent of custodial mothers received the total amount of support they were owed, compared to 41.6 percent of custodial fathers.

However, these numbers can be misleading without other numbers and facts to put them into context:

Fathers make up only 18.3 percent of the custodial parents in the United States as of 2011, meaning there is still a significantly greater number of delinquent fathers than mothers
The average income of custodial fathers that do not receive their full amount of child support is $51,791, compared to only $26,231 for mothers. So custodial fathers make approximately twice as much as the average single mom.
As of 2011, approximately 31.8 percent of single moms were below the poverty line, whereas single dads below the poverty line were about half that figure.

So while it is true that a higher percentage of custodial mothers fail to make their support payments, this would seem to be due to a variety of factors, most notably a significant difference in income and a greater likelihood that they are living in poverty.

Really Bad Pieces of Divorce Advice

As you are going through a divorce, chances are you will receive a lot of unsolicited advice from family members and friends who may or may not have ever experienced a divorce of their own. Although they almost certainly mean well, it’s important to remember that each divorce is different, and any advice they give might not be appropriate for your situation.

To that end, here are some common pieces of bad advice related to divorce:

Wait at least a year before dating again: This isn’t true for everyone, and some people may be able to recover and get back on the dating scene more quickly than others. You shouldn’t put any limitations or timeframes on when you can start dating again. Instead, focus on getting yourself into the right emotional or mental state to move forward successfully.
Never let your ex-spouse in the home: This is simply childish and could also affect your kids in a negative way. You need to at least attempt to remain cordial with your former spouse so you do not influence the relationship your children have with that person.
Never get married again: This is, again, poor advice that does not take into account the fact that everyone is different. Although some people may wish to avoid marrying again, others may find a great partner who makes them truly happy.
Just move on and don’t feel sorry for yourself: It is completely natural to spend time in grief. Anyone who tells you to stop feeling sorry for yourself either has never been in your situation or simply does not respect you and your emotions. You have the right to take some time to figure out your feelings.