More states embrace ‘50-50’ child custody in divorce cases

By: Anna Claire Vollers

Outlets: Stateline

Published: September 16, 2026

Words: 1,070

Last Updated: 2 days, 8 hours ago

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A growing number of states are making an equal split between parents the default child custody option in divorce cases.

Louisiana and Mississippi this year joined at least five other states that have adopted the so-called 50-50 standard — four of them since 2021, as more legislators rework divorce-related laws that remained mostly unchanged for years.

The 50-50 custody issue does not break down cleanly along partisan lines: The Mississippi bill was …

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