Americans believe children of divorce should split time with parents
Overview
Two-thirds of adults (66.1%) say the best arrangement for children after a separation or divorce is about equal time with both parents, regularly alternating between homes. Just 3.5% say living with the mother all of the time is best, and 0.8% say the father all of the time.
The preference for keeping children with family carries into removal cases. When children cannot live with their biological parents, 48.4% say legal guardianship with a relative is usually better than adoption.
Topline
66.1% say about equal time with both parents is the best arrangement after a separation or divorce; just 3.5% say the mother all of the time.
To live with…
- …about equal time with both parents regularly alternating between homes 66.1%
- …with both parents but mostly with the mother 18.1%
- None of the above 9.1%
- …the mother all of the time 3.5%
- …with both parents but mostly with the father 2.3%
- …with the father all of the time 0.8%
Verasight PAA Omnibus Survey #2026-051
View source dataEqual time is the clear favorite
About two-thirds of adults (66.1%) say children whose parents separate or divorce are best off spending about equal time with both parents, regularly alternating between homes.
Another 18.1% say living with both parents but mostly with the mother is best. Full-time arrangements draw little support: 3.5% say the mother all of the time and 0.8% say the father all of the time.
Topline
48.4% say guardianship with a relative is usually better than adoption; 19.9% say adoption is usually better.
When children cannot live with their biological parents due to abuse and neglect, is it better for them to reside in legal guardianship with a relative or to be adopted?
- Guardianship is usually better 48.4%
- Guardianship is similar to adoption 31.7%
- Adoption is usually better 19.9%
Verasight PAA Omnibus Survey #2026-051
View source dataRelatives beat adoption when parents are out
When children cannot live with their biological parents because of abuse and neglect, 48.4% of adults say legal guardianship with a relative is usually better than adoption, while 19.9% say adoption is usually better.
Another 31.7% see the two as similar. Adults 18-29 call them similar far more often than adults 65 and older (47.9% vs 21.2%).
Broad support for checking on newborns
About two-thirds of adults (65.5%) say Child Protective Services should always assess a newborn's safety before hospital discharge if the parents previously lost custody of other children due to abuse and neglect. Another 27.9% say sometimes, and just 2.4% say never.
Methodology
Full methodology- Mode
- Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population
- US adults age 18+
- Field dates
- 2026-06-03 → 2026-06-08
- Base (unweighted)
- 1,000
- Margin of error
- +/- 3.1%
- Module
- A
- Sponsor
- Verasight
- Weight variable
- weight
- Weighting targets
- age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status
Sources
[3]- 01To live with…Shows the living arrangement adults think is best for children after a separation or divorce; 66.1% say about equal time with both parents.reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026
- 02Should Child Protective Services assess the safety of newborns prior to hospital discharge if their parents previously lost custody to other children due to abuse and neglect?Shows how often adults think CPS should assess newborn safety before hospital discharge when parents previously lost custody; 65.5% say always.reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026
- 03When children cannot live with their biological parents due to abuse and neglect, is it better for them to reside in legal guardianship with a relative or to be adopted?Shows whether adults think guardianship with a relative or adoption is better for children who cannot live with their parents; 48.4% say guardianship is usually better.reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026
Citation
Verasight PAA Omnibus Survey #2026-051, fielded June 3-8, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.