We all know people who have moved from Peoria in search of greener pastures. And we all know people have returned home after trying other cities, towns and states. What might be news is that Americans are typically moving less today than in the past.

Statistics show us Americans are moving only about half as much as did back in the mid 1960s. Why the big drop-off in migration? A professor of geography at the University of Connecticut has been trying to answer that question for nearly a decade. After much research and study, he says the complexities of modern families — especially those families who have gone through divorce involving child custody matters — have created ties that bind people together, even after divorce.

Professor Thomas Cooke says “divorce and child custody make a big difference for migration.” He points to the evolution of the father’s role in both marriage and divorce.

In past generations, dads were often the sole breadwinners who focused much of their time and energy on earning a living and upkeep of the marital home. Today, both parents are likely to work and fathers are more likely to partake in child-rearing duties.

So when a marriage ends in 2016, the father and mother are likely to share custody rather than having all the responsibilities (and joys) of parenthood going to women.

For many couples, the likelihood of shared custody means they have incentive to work with their family law attorneys to craft parenting agreements that make all parties comfortable. After all, the lives of divorced parents are bound together through their children.

A Peoria family law attorney can discuss your priorities in divorce and help you protect your children.