Do Nonresident Fathers Who Pay Child Support Visit Their Children More?

This report examines the answer to the question raised by the title. Children who have child support orders and receive child support payments have more frequent contact with their nonresident fathers. Children living in poverty were less likely to have seen their fathers in the previous year than were children whose family earnings exceeded the poverty line. African-American children born to unmarried parents were more likely to see their fathers than are white or Hispanic children. Children born out of wedlock, regardless of income, were more likely to visit their fathers after the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) was enacted. There was no increase in nonresident father visitation among children born in wedlock, regardless of income.

Do Nonresident Fathers Who Pay Child Support Visit Their Children More?.pdf