Accounting for Shared Custody in the 2020 U.S. Census

Accounting for Shared Custody in the 2020 U.S. Census

By Daniel Schy, Esq.

In the midst of the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the last things on your mind may be responding to the 2020 U.S. Census.  Nevertheless, the U.S. Constitution mandates this decennial accounting, and your response is required by federal law.

Each person is to be counted at his/her usual place of residence.  For many, their usual place of residence is obvious, but for those parents with shared custodial arrangements, there may be some questions about how their children should be accounted for in their Census response.

Fortunately, there are clear answers: which residence should be considered your child’s usual residence will depend on your specific custodial arrangement.  Generally, though, that is the residence at which your child lives or sleeps most of the time.  If you are the primary caretaker, then your residence should be used.  In the event of a 50/50 custodial arrangement, then the residence at which your child resides on Census Day (April 1, 2020) should be used.

Learn more information about residence criteria for purposes of the 2020 Census here.

If you have questions pertaining to your custody arrangement or other family law matters, particularly during the current COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates in Virginia, Maryland and D.C., request a call or virtual meeting with a Curran Moher Weis attorney through our online form.