What states have the best father's rights?

Asked by: Dr. Viola Cartwright  |  Last update: August 29, 2025
Score: 5/5 (28 votes)

  • New Hampshire. Overall score: 60.12.
  • Wisconsin. Overall score: 60.16.
  • Rhode Island. Overall score: 63.15.
  • Minnesota. Overall score: 64.22.
  • New Jersey. Overall score: 68.02.
  • Connecticut. Overall score: 69.08.
  • District of Columbia. Overall score: 76.22.
  • Massachusetts. Overall score: 76.54.

What states are most friendly to fathers?

Best States for Working Dads
  • Massachusetts.
  • District of Columbia.
  • Connecticut.
  • Minnesota.
  • New Jersey.
  • Rhode Island.
  • Wisconsin.
  • New Hampshire.

What are the best states for fathers?

10 Best States for Working Dads
  • Massachusetts.
  • District of Columbia.
  • Connecticut.
  • New Jersey.
  • Minnesota.
  • Rhode Island.
  • Wisconsin.
  • New Hampshire.

Which states favor the mother?

There are any number of reasons the myth persists that California favors mothers in custody disputes, but the law does not back them up. Other states have differing laws and it's possible people believe if it happens there, it can happen here.

How likely is a father to get full custody?

The True Facts About Child Custody for Men in The US:

Fathers are granted custody only 18.3% of the time.

Father's Rights In All 50 States

15 related questions found

What state is the hardest on child support?

The varying yardsticks create some surprising results. For example, New Jersey ranks 47th in child support payments, even though it's one of the most expensive states in which to live. Massachusetts is first, and Nevada second.

Which state has the most expensive child support?

Massachusetts parents are paying the most in child support

The app reports that the average parent in Massachusetts pays $1,187 per month for child support.

How much do most fathers pay for child support?

On average, a typical child support monthly payment is about $400-500 in California, but it can vary greatly. An experienced child support attorney in Orange County, CA can help walk you through every step of the process.

Which gender wins more custody battles?

In fact, on the national average, a female parent is granted around 65% of custody time, whereas a male parent receives around 35%. Blogs covered in this blog: Numerous States award shared custody, with both female and male parents each granted a full 50% of the time with their children.

Who wins most child custody cases?

It is true that mothers typically HAVE custody of their children, but that's mostly because the men take off. Statistically, in the US, when a man asks for shared custody, he gets it, and in cases where men go to court to get full custody, they get it a majority of the time.

What states are the best to raise a family in?

The 10 best states to raise a family in 2025
  • Massachusetts.
  • Minnesota.
  • North Dakota.
  • Nebraska.
  • New Hampshire.
  • New York.
  • Illinois.
  • Wisconsin.

What state is friendliest to fathers?

Massachusetts

Massachusetts scored as the best states for working fathers, with the most consistently high rankings across the four categories.

What are the mom states?

The concept of a “mother state” or a “father state” describes a court system that gives one parent an advantage over another when it comes to child custody decisions. The idea is that in a mother state, the law inherently proves mothers with preferential treatment over fathers.

Is Florida a mother or father state?

Florida law generally prefers that both parents participate in raising children. Thus, courts will usually grant each parent time with their children. It is rare for either parent to get sole custody in Florida.

What states have the lowest child support?

For the same study, the state with the lowest child support was Virginia, with a calculated payment of $402. Other states that ranked low were Delaware, New Jersey, Oregon, Wyoming, and Idaho. The calculated child support payment amounts per state did not necessarily correlate with the cost of living in each state.

What is the most expensive state to raise a child?

Massachusetts Tops the List. Massachusetts has the highest annual costs for raising a child, at $35,841 per year.

What race pays the most in child support?

Non-Hispanic Black noncustodial parents owe the highest level of child support orders compared to non- Hispanic White noncustodial parents, partly due to the higher proportion of non- Hispanic Black parents who have children with multiple partners.

What state has the highest child support cap?

In state-by-state rankings, Massachusetts ranks highest with the most expensive child support payments, averaging $1,187 per month. Virginia mandates the least support at $402 per month.

Does the state take some of my child support?

For custodial parents receiving cash assistance through programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, some states keep portions of the child support to “repay” the state. Child support orders are usually decided during divorce or custody legal proceedings.

What percentage of people in jail are on child support?

California's imprisonment rate—the share of adults in state prisons—stood at 309 per 100K in 2023.

What not to say during a custody battle?

Avoid cursing and putting down the other parent, your children, in-laws, and other family members, the mediator, the judge, and others involved in the process. That can be tricky when sensitive topics, such as substance abuse, are at play.

What states are best for father's rights?

Among the best states for fathers are also: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin, which also tend to give fathers 50 percent custody.

What is the biggest mistake in custody battle?

The Most Common Mistakes Made in California Child Custody Cases. Failing to respond to a child custody case will not make the issue go away. Instead, it could lead to a default judgment. This means that whatever the other party is requesting will most likely be granted by the judge because you have not given any input.