In the past, when a married couple with children chose to get a divorce, mothers were usually given sole custody of their children.
Today, however, most judges and divorce experts recommend that parents share custody of their children equally whenever possible.
Rather than only seeing their children briefly on weekends, fathers today take a more direct role in childcare and custody.
The life of the single father can be very different than it was not long ago.
Before women gained more freedom and fully entered the workforce, it was standard for a child's mother to maintain sole custody.
Although fathers today are able to play a larger role in the upbringing and care of their children, back then, they generally had limited visitation rights at best.
The father effectively reentered bachelorhood, except with visitation rights and the obligation to pay child support.
This leads to children who are alienated from their fathers, growing up with a much weaker emotional bond between a father and his children.
To prevent many of the problems associated with that arrangement, the recommended arrangement today is for children to spend half their time living with their fathers and half with their mothers.
If you and your spouse are considering a divorce, it is in the best interests of both of you and your children to think through every aspect of your divorce--especially your custody arrangement.
A divorce lawyer can guide you through the entire process.
With the assistance of an experienced divorce lawyer at your aid, you can make the strongest case possible for a favorable outcome.
To learn more about divorce and child custody, visit the website of Oceanside divorce lawyers of Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP.