Dads Care 2

As of today, Mississippi’s 50/50 custody law and child support reform officially go into effect.

This is a major step forward for children, parents, and the shared parenting movement.

With 50/50 custody becoming the standard and child support calculations being reformed in true equal-parenting cases, Mississippi now becomes the 6th state to move toward this type of shared parenting law — joining Missouri, Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Arkansas.

When both fit, loving parents are actively involved, children benefit. Parenting responsibility is shared. Financial pressure is reduced. And child support is less likely to be used as a weapon in cases where both parents are already providing housing, food, clothing, transportation, school needs, medical care, and daily support during their parenting time.

This is also why advocacy matters.

Mark Ludwig was involved in helping push this forward in Mississippi, along with child support reform efforts in that state. These wins do not happen by accident. They happen because people show up, speak out, organize, educate lawmakers, and refuse to let the system continue treating one parent as the “real” parent and the other as a visitor or a paycheck.

Unfortunately, while some states are pushing forward, others are losing traction.

Arizona was once extremely 50/50 friendly, even though the exact language was not written into law the same way. But with the recent passage of the Alec and Lydia Act, Arizona has taken a step backward in how 50/50 parenting may be approached in certain cases.

Whether that outcome could have been completely avoided is hard to say. But one thing is clear: we could have done more. We could have pushed harder. We could have paid closer attention. And we could have made sure lawmakers understood the difference between protecting children from true abuse and creating laws that may be misused to interfere with fit, loving parents.

That is the lesson.

Shared parenting advocates cannot get comfortable. We cannot assume progress is permanent. We cannot only show up after rights have already been weakened.

We need fathers, mothers, grandparents, advocates, attorneys, lawmakers, and everyday citizens to keep pushing for laws that protect children, protect due process, support true shared parenting, and keep both fit parents involved.

Mississippi is proof that progress is possible.

Arizona is a reminder that progress can be lost.

We need to keep advocating, keep educating, and keep fighting for change in the right direction.

Children deserve two fit, loving parents.
Parents deserve fairness.
Families deserve better.

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Visit www.npclfathersandfamilies.org for more truths and follow us.

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