2021
- February 22nd
Angry at Your Ex? Here are Three Ways to Keep it From Affecting Your KidsCouple issues can easily boil over and affect your life in other areas. You have to be careful these problems don’t affect your relationship with your children. - February 20th
Winning Strategies to Get Increased Parenting TimeMany non-custodial parents dream of having more time with their children, but they’re not sure how they can make it happen. Solutions can be easier than they appear. - February 15th
What to do When Your Ex Makes Custody Exchanges a NightmareSome co-parents are really good at pushing buttons, and there’s no time worse for playing these games than during a custody exchange. Ideally, you want the time your kids spend with you to end on a happy note. - February 7th
Dealing with Issues When You Work Full-Time and Your Ex Doesn’t Have a JobToo many single dads work too much, have limited time to share with their kids, and get put to shame for it by a co-parent who doesn’t have a job. Here's what to do about it. - February 6th
Will the IRS Take Your or Your Spouse’s Tax Refund for Past Due Child Support? Here’s What You Need to KnowTax season can be stressful and may be particularly fraught with headaches this year. You’ll be able to weather those challenges easier if you’re prepared. Before you file your taxes, check to see if there are offsets that will take money from your refund. - January 29th
Single Dads vs. Diapers: The Best Ways for Dads to Change Diapers on the GoSingle dads face complications when changing diapers on the go. Don’t let that be an obstacle to going places with your child. - January 19th
How to Get Your Kids Back Once They’re OverseasMilitary dads can prevent international parental kidnapping while they're deployed. - January 13th
DadsRights.org Starts New Facebook Group for Single Fathers Who Need SupportSince 1998, we’ve worked hard to be an online resource for single dads who needed advice and support. Now we have one more way of helping make that happen with our new Facebook group. - January 11th
2021 Stimulus Check Will Not Be Garnished for Child Support According to IRSIf you or your spouse lost out on the first stimulus payment due to child support debt, you won’t have to worry about your second payment being garnished. - January 5th
The Most-Read and Popular Fathers’ Rights Articles Read by Dads in 2020Reviewing the articles from the past year that got the most attention was somewhat surreal.
- December 17th
Maryland Legislators Considering Sweeping Anti-Dad Reforms to Child Custody LawsThe Maryland legislature is considering comprehensive child custody reform that could renew courtroom gender bias. - November 17th
Cutting Back on TV During a Pandemic? Experts Say It Could Reduce Parent’s StressWhile many parents have relied on TV to take off some of the emotional burdens of staying home during the pandemic, it may be causing more harm than good. A new study from the University of Arizona has linked increased TV watching with an increase in parent-child conflict and parental stress. - November 3rd
Iowa Dad Loses Parental Rights After Working Too MuchIn a system which often penalizes dads for not working overtime, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the termination of a father’s parental rights for doing the exact opposite. - October 27th
More Dads Staying Home and Being At-Home Parents as Pandemic Changes Social NormsAs Covid closed down businesses across the country, researchers noted a confusing trend. Even in households where women were earning more than men, moms were choosing to leave the workforce to look after their children. But in some situations, the practical constraints of the pandemic forced families to confront the social bias against fathers that has lasted for decades. - October 22nd
Judge Jails Two Teens for Refusing to Spend Time with DadPhysical and mental health risks aside, it’s important to note that neither boy committed a crime in Ohio. Criminalizing teens who avoid their parents doesn't help families bond. - October 1st
The Best TikTok PSA We’ve SeenThere is a trend on TikTok right now to post PSAs to the tune of "If You're Happy" and this is by far the best one we've seen! - September 23rd
Three Ways Fathers Can Nurture Their SonsThere’s been a lot of traction on social media lately regarding how fathers can nurture their daughters -- but what about their sons? Boys have emotional needs as well. - August 25th
Children of Single Fathers Succeed in School When Dad Takes PartRecently, the U.S. Department of Education conducted a study that made it clear that single dads’ efforts have a big impact on grades and attitude when it comes to education, regardless of how much parenting time they have. - August 17th
Relationship Problems That Can Hurt Your Custody EffortsUnfortunately, some of the most prevalent issues that lead to divorce also affect co-parenting if they aren’t addressed. Here are three common problems to keep an eye on when working together with your ex for the sake of the kids... - August 6th
Angry Mother Tries to Kill Ex During Custody Exchange, Murders Their Child InsteadUndra Henderson fought hard to keep his child safe. The system let them down time and time again. Their story isn’t unique enough for you to let your guard down. If you’re at all worried about your safety, take these extra steps to protect yourself and your child. - July 31st
Single Father Adopts, Reunites Five Siblings Under Age FiveLamont Thomas never planned to foster children, but when his friends lost their child to the system he felt compelled to step up and care for their son. Then came more kids in need. - July 22nd
Dads Face-Off With Sharks, Bears to Keep Their Kids Safe This SummerForget about unemployment, the pandemic and other everyday worries. Some dads are literally fending off bear and shark attacks to keep their kids alive. - July 17th
‘Operation Pay Up’ Arrests Dads Whether They’re Delinquent on Child Support or NotOperation Pay Up claims to target parents who are willfully behind on child support payments, but it doesn't live up to that promise. - June 21st
An Acknowledgment of Father’s Day 2020 from DadsRights.orgOur society has a long way to go in respecting dads of all kinds, but we see you. We’re proud of you. We hope you’re proud of you too. - June 19th
Don’t Let Facebook Connections Influence Your Child Custody CaseWhen parties to a lawsuit use social media to connect with key individuals involved with a court case, it can lead to disruptions, overturned rulings and increased costs. - June 3rd
Arizona Child Support Services Plundering Unemployment Payments, Misplacing ExcessArizona's Child Support Services are withdrawing several times more what they're owed from men's unemployment and losing track of the money. - May 27th
Are You Ready? CDC School Recommendations Signal a Need for New Childcare OptionsCDC recommendations for reopening schools could lead to big changes to needs for childcare and could help some dads get more time with their kids. - May 12th
How to Avoid Losing Your Temper in Three Easy StepsShelter orders are adding extra stress to our lives. Keep your cool with these simple three steps to anger management for parents. - May 2nd
Changing Attitudes on Back Child Support Debts Are Creating New Resources for Dads in NeedFacebook is becoming an unlikely source of help for single dads who are searching for affordable housing, medicine and other necessities. - April 13th
How COVID-19 is Affecting Non-Custodial Parents, Parenting Time, and Child SupportThe country is on lockdown and posing significantly challenges to coparents. Do you still have to pay child support? Can your ex keep your child at home? Learn the latest on how states are enforcing orders right now. - April 10th
New Arkansas Child Support Law Offers Some Dads ReliefFor the first time in 30 years, Arkansas is changing the way child support is figured. The new policy compares both parents' income and parenting time. - April 6th
Fathers’ Rights Friday Funnies – April 3rd, 2020No, they're not degrees, they are 'Dad of the Week' awards from my kids. Every time I pick them up they give me one. - April 2nd
The Single Dad’s Guide to Surviving the Coronavirus ShutdownSingle dads who owe child support could lose their stimulus checks, but there is other help available. Check out these details on extended unemployment programs and what lenders are doing to help. - March 24th
3 Ways that Single Dads Can Connect with Their Kids During the CoronavirusFor some parents, Covid-19 is creating barriers to access. Here are three easy ways single dads can stay connected with their kids. - March 5th
Single Foster Dad Adopts Teen Abandoned by First Adoptive FamilyTony was abandoned at 2, adopted at 4, abandoned again at age 11. Then he met single foster dad Peter Mutabazi. - March 5th
In Texas, Dad Battles Mom’s Former Boyfriend for Custody of 4 Year Old GirlWhen this dad’s ex-wife died, her live-in boyfriend of 10 months filed for custody and won overnight visitation with the dad's 4-year-old daughter. Now, he’s fighting alongside the state of Texas to get the man out of her life. - February 27th
How Dads Can Help All Boys Excel in the ClassroomA recent study shows how gender bias toward reading is discouraging boys’ early academic development. Learn how dads can help. - February 22nd
Oklahoma Group Seeks Dads’ Stories, Offers SupportOklahoma group Furnishing Fathers acts as a bridge between dads and the resources they need to stay involved in their children's lives. - February 13th
Should Single Dads Send Flowers to Their Exes on Valentine’s Day?Some men firmly believe in sending flowers to their exes on Valentine’s Day. Unless you’ve been told to avoid your ex, there are many ways to reach out. - February 7th
Dads Could Pay Support for Unborn Children Thanks to New BillRepublican lawmakers across the country want to use prenatal DNA testing to assign child support before a child is born. Here's how to fight the Unborn Child Support Act. - January 27th
(Don’t) Kick Him in the Privates! Promoting Better Self-Defense Tips for KidsWe believe that peaceful dispute resolution is always the best way, if at all possible. But what about those situations where it has already escalated and your child has no other option but to defend themselves? Here's what not to do: Don't tell your child to kick the other child in their nether regions! - January 22nd
Losing Touch With Your Kids Can Make Them SickA new study out of Norway shows an increase in children’s physical and mental health problems as communication with their dads deteriorates. Learn how to put this study to use in increasing your parenting time with your children. - January 16th
How to Celebrate the Life and Work of Martin Luther King Jr. With Your ChildrenSometimes dads struggle to feel relevant in their children’s lives when they’re not there all the time, but there are plenty of ways you can influence their futures for the good. Even at a distance. Take advantage of the opportunities holidays like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day give parents to make an impact. - January 14th
Is Technology Making You an Anxious Parent? Signs of Postpartum Depression and PPMD in FathersMore is expected of dads today than ever before, and many of them aren’t prepared for the pressure. Throw in an ailing marriage, and you have a recipe for disaster. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by safety and health concerns for your child, double-check your other emotions. You might be struggling with an undiagnosed condition treatment that will help. - January 1st
Top Stories of 2019 and What Dads Want in 2020The biggest news stories of 2019 included the fire of Notre Dame and the first major steps in finding a cure for HIV, but what about the top stories here at DadsRights.org?
- December 26th
Celebrate National Download Day With These Dad-Friendly AppsCo-parenting is tough enough without having to go at it alone. Do your best with the youngest generation with help from next-gen resources. - December 20th
Are Your Gifts Good Enough? The Non-custodial Parents’ Guide to Managing ExpectationsWe’ve run into several dads over the last few days who were worried over whether the gifts they gave their kids were good enough to preserve their relationships for another year. Some of them already know they’re not getting a thank you. - December 10th
What You Don’t Know About International Parental Kidnapping – Are You Prepared?Do you think you need to give your permission for your child to leave the country? You could be wrong. Fathers—and mothers—have found out the hard way how easy it is for someone to disappear with a child. Safeguard your family from the worst case scenario with professional tips on preventing international child abduction. - November 19th
Dad’s Fight Garners Support of Governor, State LegislatureOn Oct. 22, after a jury awarded Georgulas sole conservatorship over her child, a judge vacated the decision and gave both parents joint conservatorship, making it possible for the dad to seek a second opinion on his son's gender dysphoria. - November 4th
Paternity Doubts During Pregnancy? Now There’s a Test for That!A non-invasive prenatal paternity test can save you thousands of dollars and months or years of stress without posing any significant risk to mother or child. - October 24th
‘Co Parenting Expert’ Encourages Mom to Call Child Protective Services When Dad Cuts Son’s Hair Without Her PermissionHeading to CPS or to family court over petty issues usually comes back to bite you. Figure out how to handle minor disagreements without putting custody at risk. - October 17th
Single Dad Creates Tech Solution to Tame Birthday Party ChaosDads - single and otherwise - often have answers other parents are seeking. Don’t feel like you have to stay focused on “masculine” issues just because you’re a father. Check out single dad Alfons Mikhaeil's answer to stress-free birthday party planning. - October 2nd
Parenting Classes Aimed at New Dads Improve Wellness for the Whole FamilyToday’s new dad often struggles to find his new place within his growing family. Parenting classes designed to answer men’s questions can help. In addition, these classes also keep dads up-to-date on the safest, most effective ways to care for their children. - September 23rd
Grieving Dad Who Was Jailed for Criticizing the Courts Is Freed by Jury TrialA Michigan father was jailed for calling out a corrupt legal system. Now a jury says he had the right. How does Facebook factor in to your custody case? - September 18th
Wisconsin Woman Jailed for Taking Hit Out on Child’s FatherWomen are just as likely as men to take out a hit on an ex. Fortunately, the contracts are rarely completed. The reason why was a nasty surprise for one Wisconsin mom. - September 9th
Schools in Many States Recognize Importance of Fathers with ‘All Pro Dads’ Program – is Your State Among Them?Schools in many areas, such as in Shelby County, Alabama, started the year off right by promoting the importance of dads in education. A new program called All Pro Dads aims to bring fathers into schools. - August 30th
Would You Trust Your Child to Arrange Your Next Relationship?What happens when single dads are ready to date again? While it’s harder to set the right expectations, a healthy foundation offers everyone benefits. - August 23rd
Dads in Japan Face Absurd Level of Scrutiny When Out Alone With Their KidsCan you imagine living in a country where seeing a father alone with his child was so rare that it seemed an acceptable reason to call the police? - August 13th
If My Ex Has a Restraining Order Against Me, Can She Contact Me? How to Safely Contest a Request for an Order of ProtectionWhile restraining orders are sometimes needed to protect victims of domestic violence, they’re now commonly used to give one party a leg-up in a divorce. Here's what to do if you're falsely accused. - August 1st
Study Accidentally Finds that Courts are Taking Claims of Parental Alienation in the Face of False Allegations of Abuse More SeriouslyA new study shows courts are taking a more serious stance on allegations of parental alienation when it is accompanied by potentially false claims of abuse. Of course, that wasn’t its purpose. - July 22nd
UK Parents Needed for Studies on Parental Alienation, Court Abuse, and Also Need Victims of Domestic, Economic, and Emotional AbuseUK parents are being asked to take part in surveys on parental alientation and other forms of domestic violence. Protect your anonymity while helping to shape policies in the United Kingdom. - July 19th
6 Ways Single Dads Can Help Their Kids Succeed in SchoolWe tackled the question of whether child support should be used for school supplies, but supplies aren’t the end-all-be-all of school success. Here are six other ways dads can help their kids succeed at school. - June 27th
Single Dad Organizes Heavy Metal Festival for Music-Loving Son With Cerebral PalsyWhen 23-year-old Mason McDeid was a toddler, his father Richard arrived home from work to find him crying. This wasn’t an unusual occurrence, says Richard; Mason has cerebral palsy, and, from birth, there had been far fewer moments where Mason wasn’t crying. But this day was different; on a whim, Richard began playing the album ‘Binge and Purge’ by Metallica. - June 27th
New Study Shows Dads Which Activities Are Best for BondingWhat's the best way for dad to bond with the kids? A new study gives fathers advice on which activities make the most impact. - June 20th
What is Daddy Shaming and Why it’s So Very WrongA new survey shows over half of dads are dad-shamed for their parenting choices, and that mom is often the culprit. Read more about what triggers complaints and the shocking impact they have on families. - June 15th
Father’s Day Weekend Statistics on Child Support and Parenting Time 2019For Father's Day 2019 we are covering both a state by state comparison of average child support awards, and a state by state comparison of parenting time awarded to single fathers. While in most states the amount of child support awarded to the custodial parent is in part driven by how much parenting time each parent has, that doesn't necessarily mean that if you have more parenting time than someone in another state that you will pay less child support, even if it's an adjacent neighboring state. - May 15th
Single Parents’ Guide to Planning a Summer VacationLearn how to plan a summer vacation that works for you, your kids and their other parent. - May 6th
UK’s Mothering Sunday Cards for Dads Mark Important ShiftIn the face of the tireless fight to see fathers as a vital presence in their childrens’ lives, it’s important to not let subtle shifts, as they’re often signs that the movement is finally picking up pace, and making room for change. This year, many in the UK noticed, for the first time ever, something new on the shelves in time for Mothering Sunday; cards for dads. - April 25th
Study Finds the Importance of Nightly Bedtime Stories with DadA common concern amongst single dads is finding ways to be a part of their children’s lives in a meaningful way during non-parenting time. This is especially challenging for military dads, who find themselves deployed overseas for long periods of time; it can be distressing for them to feel like they’re not as active in the lives of their children as they’d like. A study about regular storytime may hold part of the answer, and inspire some creative ways to allay this concern. - April 23rd
Grown Kids of Single Fathers Share Their Favorite Memories of DadIf we learned anything in our recent article about hardships faced by dads, a recurring challenge is unsolicited commentary about how much better off the kids would be with their mothers. - April 22nd
Single Dads Reveal the Challenges of Raising Kids AloneWhen a Reddit user recently posted the question “What are some hardships you have to endure that people don't seem to understand?” to subreddit r/AskMen, over 3,000 users flooded the post with their personal anecdotes, summing up their experiences, ranging from sad to hilarious. - March 4th
Illinois ‘Equal Parenting Time’ Bill Sees Major Opposition Second Year in a RowThere is clear scientific evidence that a need for legal guidance exists if children are to have equal time with their mothers and fathers. Learn how you can help children get the parenting time they deserve in Illinois. - February 15th
Ohio Father Killed During Custody ExchangeThe Ohio father lured to his death in a McDonald’s parking lot last month had just won custody of his three children. How could the courts have helped keep this family safe? - February 6th
Dad Gains Primary Custody After Judge Declares Mother’s Bitterness Is AbuseA UK dad won sole physical custody of the kids when their mother's bitterness became emotionally abusive. Read on for tips for how to process the pain of divorce without impacting the kids. - January 21st
Why More American Dads Are Winning Primary CustodyChanges in and out of the courtroom are leading to more fathers getting primary custody of their kids. - January 19th
Judge Dismissed Over Parenting Time Tampering Loses PensionNew Jersey Superior Court judge dismissed after lying to police in a friend's custody matter has lost her state pension. - January 3rd
Russian Dad Awarded €15,000 for Article 8 Violation of European Convention on Human RightsWhile attitudes toward parenting rights differ greatly from country to country (and sometimes, from state to state) the European Convention creates an obligation for all of its members to keep family ties strong. There’s potential for this court decision to make big waves in policies regarding court order enforcement and in attitudes toward parenting agreements in general.
- December 20th
New Zealand Refuses to Return Child Kidnapped From MalaysiaThe Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction established rules for returning children to their home countries when abducted by a parent, but when one of the countries involved in a custody dispute hasn’t signed the agreement, those protections sometimes go out the window. - December 10th
Second Opinion Denied to Dad Who Doesn’t Believe His 6-Year-Old is TransgenderA six-year-old child who identifies as a girl when he’s with his mother and as a boy when he’s with his father is at the center of an intense Texas custody battle, in which the mother has exclusive rights to make decisions regarding mental health. - November 29th
How Single Parents can Turn the Stress of the Holiday Season Into Fond Memories Your Children Will CherishThe holiday season is rife with harsh memories and emotions, especially for disunited families, that can leave some single parents - and their children - feeling overwhelmed. Care for yourself during the holidays by managing stressors in healthy ways. - November 24th
Biological Father Awarded Parenting Rights in California Case Recognizing Three ParentsOn Tuesday, Nov. 13, California’s Third District Court of Appeal found in favor of a biological father (known as C.A.) who now shares parenting rights with a married woman and her husband. - November 8th
Supreme Court of India Says Fathers Can Remarry and Retain CustodyThe Supreme Court of India says parents can remarry without risking custody. - November 2nd
Custody Battle Possible Motive for Double HomicideInvestigators say a heated custody battle could play a role in the Sodus murders of Joshua Niles and Amber Washburn. - October 23rd
Pro-Dad Attitudes Key to Improving Child Support Recovery RatesSimply changing the wording at various stages of the child support process demonstrated a 54 percent improvement in effectiveness. When dads are invited, encouraged and appreciated it is more beneficial to families, to children and to state budgets than the current trend toward criminalization. - October 14th
Proposed Parenting Time Rule Changes in Japan Could Spell Good News for Single FathersCustody and parenting time is handled differently in Japan than it is in the West, though new rules could change things. Efforts are aimed at making child exchanges easier and more enforceable. - October 10th
How Both Dr. Blasey Ford and Judge Kavanaugh Could be Telling the TruthIt may go down in history as the most notorious 'he said - she said' of all time, not to mention the most divisive. The nation has been gripped by the compelling story of a vulnerable teenaged girl, at a drunken gathering, being led into a bedroom, thrown down on the bed, and having her mouth covered when she tried to scream. The nation was equally gripped, and either convinced or disgusted by, the accused's complete and absolute denial that he was the culprit. - October 5th
Kansas says Father Whose Child Adopted Away without his Knowledge or Consent has Rights to His ChildThe Kansas Supreme Court granted a biological father parental rights to a child given up for adoption without proper notice. - September 28th
Florida School Board Recognizes Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)Parental alienation syndrome (PAS) hurts children and prevents them from having time they deserve with both their mother and father. Now the Brevard County School Board has committed to drawing attention to the problem. - September 20th
New Fathers’ Rights Group Hopes to Change Idaho LawIdaho was ranked among the lowest states when considering parenting time granted to divorced fathers. The problem is compounded by the state’s unusually high divorce rate. - September 12th
How to Find Qualified Legal Help for Custody, Child Support, and Other Family Law IssuesHiring the best lawyer for your case can make all the difference. - September 6th
Ability to Show Police a Parenting Time Order Leads to Felony Charges Against Interfering MotherRetired NBA player Matt Barnes could have gone to jail on Friday. Instead, he drove away with his 9-year-old twins, and their mother, reality TV-star Gloria Govan, was arrested on charges of felony child endangerment. - August 29th
Australia ‘Sperm Donor’ Seeks Parental RightsSperm donorship became more popular in the ‘80s as single women became more confident in their choices to raise a child without the help of a male partner. The law sided with women’s rights, but now courts are focused on their children’s rights. - August 21st
Should Child Support Cover School Supplies?Some divorced parents wind up fighting over the cost of school supplies. How you handle this legally has more to do with your divorce decree than anything. - August 16th
Biological Dads Gain More Rights in Florida CourtsThe decision in a new Florida case has made it easier for biological dads to have a chance at custody, but it won’t be as simple as showing up to court. - August 1st
The 7 Books Divorcing, Divorced, and Single Fathers NeedBooks for divorced dads will help you navigate some of the toughest challenges you can face during and after the process. Fupping recently published their list of the best seven books for divorced men, and here is our rundown of them. - July 26th
Knesset Member Decries Hypocrisy against Fathers in Israel’s Family Law SystemIn Israel, mothers automatically receive custody of children under age six thanks to the Tender Years Clause. Women’s groups vehemently opposed attempts to lower the age last year. It’s a fight that frustrated men and women who are fighting for the best interests of Israeli children. - July 20th
Warren Farrell and John Gray Team Up to Shine Spotlight on the Crisis for Boys and Men in the United StatesSociety has been fighting for decades to erase the constraints against women. We’ve taken major strides to convince girls they could be smart and nurturing, inspiring and inspired, that they had the power to define who and what they would become based on their likes and preferences and nobody else’s. But we haven’t afforded the same privilege to boys. - July 16th
Parental Rights in Modern-Day DivorceIssues of custody and parental rights are almost invariably the most important, emotional, and high-stakes components of divorce proceedings. Money can be lost or spent, then regained, and real estate and vehicles can be replaced, but there is no substitute for access to one’s children. - July 12th
Chicago Fathers’ Rights Lawyers Named “Super Lawyers” by Illinois Super LawyersSuper Lawyers recognized Alan Hoffenberg and Gloria Block, cofounders of Hoffenberg & Block LLC for decades of outstanding work. The directory listed an addition three attorneys from the firm as “Rising Stars.” Combined, the firm represents more than 100 years of experience in family law. - July 11th
State Laws Regarding Custody for Unmarried Fathers Vary from State to StateFor unmarried fathers to stay protected, it's important to realize the advice you get from friends might not be relevant in your state or to your situation. Search out legal advice from official sources. - July 9th
New Kentucky Law Creates Presumption of Joint CustodyA new law hopes to help Kentucky kids stay connected with both of their parents after divorce by requiring judges to assign joint custody whenever possible. - July 5th
Mr. Dad Offers Advice, Hope to Single Fathers Along with OthersMr. Dad, aka Armin Brott, is a father of three who has published eight books on fatherhood in the past 15 years and has a column featured in publications around the globe. His blog is one of the most popular parenting resources on the Internet. But is he the right source for advice for single fathers? - July 4th
How to Stay Connected with Your Children When You’re Apart for the HolidaysWhether you’re celebrating the 4th of July or New Years, festivities are a little less festive without the family around. Divorce does a number on traditions. Living life to the fullest after divorce means creating new ones. Get creative, and you will still feel like you’re celebrating together on the holiday, even if the date falls during mom’s parenting time. - June 19th
Single Dads at Increased Risk of Suicide on Father’s DayFor thousands of fathers in America, Father’s Day was one of the few days this year they were able to see their children. For others, it was another day spent in a seemingly endless custody battle against a system that was stacked against them from the start. For far too many, that battle proved too much and their Father’s Day ended tragically in suicide. What should be a happy day to celebrate fatherhood and the important male figures in our lives, turns out to be one of the five holidays with the most suicide attempts in the United States. - June 7th
State by State Breakdown of Average Parenting Time for Dads – Which States Give the Most and Least Time to FathersA study commissioned by the CustodyXChange, just in time for Father's Day, has determined how much parenting time fathers are given, on average, in each state in the United States. Somewhat surprisingly, the study found that there are twenty states that generally give equal time to both parents, in other words 50/50 custody. On the other hand, there are 24 states that give fathers less than 30% parenting time, and 7 states that give fathers and their children less than 24% of the time together. - April 25th
North Carolina Could Get a Fathers’ Rights Advocate as Their Next State SenatorResidents in North Carolina's 42nd District could have a shared parenting and fathers' rights advocate as their newest state senator, if they elect Dustin Long as their representative. - March 21st
West Virginia Fathers get Boost with iFather EventsFathers' relationships with their children are getting a boost in West Virginia from West Virginia University's iFather program. iFather is a joint effort between the WVU extension program, and their College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences ('CPASS'). - February 28th
NOW’s Hidden Agenda and War on Fathers’ RightsThe National Organization for Women (NOW) claims that it is about full equality between men and women. Those who espouse true equality are known as equality feminists. NOW is not an equality feminism organization - rather it is a gender feminism organization. Gender feminism espouses that women need special treatment and protections by virtue of their gender. And, for NOW, this includes special protections against men having equal parenting rights. - February 26th
Rick Santorum says Time to Discuss the Connection Between School Shooters and Father AbsenceFormer GOP senator Rick Santorum has said that it's time to discuss a striking commonality among most school shooters: they come from father-absent households. Many have twisted this to say that he is blaming single mothers, and that's poppycock. Regardless of on which side of the political spectrum you lay, the reality is that he's right. - February 23rd
How the New Tax Laws from 2017 – 2018 Affect Single Fathers and What You Should Do About ItAs we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the new tax law passed in 2017, and effective in 2018, has serious impacts for single fathers. The most glaring of these impacts - which also seems to be the least covered - is that it it completely does away with the deduction for spousal support (also known as 'alimony' or 'maintenance'). Here's what you should do to deal with this. - February 19th
Mother Sentenced to Jail for Having Child Baptized without Father’s Knowledge or AgreementIn a novel twist, a mother in North Carolina was jailed after having the divorced couple's daughter baptized without the father's permission. What makes this situation so unique is not only that the mother was sentenced and jailed, but also that while the parents actually agreed in principle that they wanted their daughter to be baptized, and to be raised Catholic, the court had granted full legal custody of the child to the father. - February 12th
The New Tax Law Does Away with Alimony, Spousal Support DeductionWith very little fanfare, the new tax law that was passed at the very end of December, 2017, and which is effective in 2018, did away with the requirement that spousal support (previously known as alimony) receivers declare spousal support as income and, on the other side of the balance sheet, did away with the deduction for spousal support payers. - February 8th
Mississippi Gets New Fathers’ Rights Law FirmThe state of Mississippi just received a new fathers' rights gift: a branch of Cordell & Cordell - the law firm that has made a name for itself by focusing on family law for men. - January 24th
5 Custody Mistakes that Fathers Should AvoidDadsRights.org founder Anne P. Mitchell has been widely quoted, along with other attorneys, in an article on Fatherly.com about the "5 Custody-Battle Mistakes Fathers Need to Avoid". It's a great article (and not just because our own founder is in it)! - January 16th
How a Father Can Lose Parental Rights without Ever KnowingDid you know that a father's parental rights can be terminated without him ever knowing (or for that matter without him even knowing that he's a father)? Using a process called 'notice by publication' or 'service by publication' a mother, or a government agency, can publish a notice of intent to terminate parental rights - or to take an action which will have the effect of or lead up to terminating a father's parental rights - in a local newspaper. After several weeks of running that notice, if the father fails to respond, he's history.
- October 24th
Mother’s False Accusations Lead to Misuse of Amber AlertA mother's false accusations led to the misuse of an Amber Alert, as well as the father being erroneously targeted as having "taken his child when he had no parental rights" (he actually does have parental rights), being identified as a "suspect", and him having been taken into custody before everything was cleared up. - October 17th
Woman Charged with Felony Deprivation of Parental Rights for Not Delivering Child for Father’s Parenting TimeA Minnesota woman has been charged with multiple felonies stemming from her failure to make the child available to the father during the father's parenting time. In fact, in addition to failing to produce the child at the appointed time, she stated that she had put the child in foster care (she had not actually done so). - October 13th
Law Presuming Equal Parenting in Missouri to be Introduced in Missouri LegislatureMissouri parents may find themselves one step closer to having the custody and parenting time playing field leveled, with the upcoming introduction of a bill which provides that when custody and parenting time are at issue, there is a presumption of shared custody. - October 2nd
Iowa Mother Arrested after Leaving 4 Children Alone in Order to Take Pleasure Trip to GermanyPolice have arrested and jailed Erin Macke, of Johnston, Iowa, and charged the mother of four with endangering her children, ages 12, 12, 7, and 6. They have also charged the 30-year-old Macke with transferring a firearm to a person under the age of 21, because she left a firearm in the home which was accessible to the children. All of this so that she could take a 12-day pleasure trip to Germany. While originally she had child care in place, that fell through and she decided to take the trip anyway, leaving the two 12-year-olds in charge. - October 2nd
Police Stop 13-Year Old Boy with Alienated Father from Killing Self After Being Abandoned by His MotherPolice in Dubai have kept a 13-year-old boy who was abandoned by his mother, after she had successfully alienated him from his father for many years, from committing suicide. The boy, left alone when his mother took off to the Netherlands, had called the police, saying that he was going to kill himself. After the police convinced the boy to let them into the apartment, where he was all alone, it became clear that he had in fact tried to cut his own wrists. - September 25th
Mother Tries to Kill Newborn then Leaves Newborn in Trash, Gets Slap on the WristBrandon Addison is a full-time father, although he gained custody in the most shocking of ways. Ashley Hautzenrader, the mother of Brandon's infant son Matthew left Matthew for dead in a restroom garbage can right after he was born. She left him in the restroom garbage after her efforts to flush the newborn down a toilet didn't work. - September 20th
International Parental Kidnapping Relief No Better Now Than It Was Years AgoWhile nearly all civilized countries have signed on to the Hague Convention, which includes cooperation between countries in the case of international parental kidnapping, the reality is that if one parent absconds with the children to another country - and especially if it is the country of the kidnapping parent's birth - the left-behind parent will have a very hard time getting their child back, if they are able to get their child back at all. - August 30th
New Fathers’ Rights Organization Opens in Toledo, OhioToledo, Ohio is the newest community to have a fathers' rights organization open its doors to single and disenfranchised fathers. Called, straightforwardly enough, "Fathers Rights Organization" (or 'FRO'), the organization was founded to "help, support and encourage you for what is best for your situation," adding, wisely, that "Not every situation is the same for everyone." - August 29th
New Dads Resource Center Provides Support for Single Fathers in PennsylvaniaThere is new a resource for single fathers in Centre County, Pennsylvania. The Dads Resource Center (or, as they refer to themselves, the 'DRC') is open for business, and that business includes "providing education, resources and advocacy for men in separated families who are determined to uphold their sacred responsibility as fathers." - August 28th
New Book Offers a First Person Perspective on Parental AlienationIn an excellent editorial in the Baltimore Post Examiner, David Shubert writes that "Parental alienation leaves a hurricane of pain." While it's a bit ironic that his editorial was published just one day before Hurricane Harvey it, perhaps it's also prophetic - as we watch the scenes of countless families flooded out of their homes, as devastating is the flood of emotions when one is pushed out of their family, and away from their children, by parental alienation. - August 25th
Advocate Tries to Change ‘Fathers Day’ to “Special Persons’ Day”A woman calling herself an advocate for social justice for children (and also calling herself Dr. Red Ruby Scarlet, which she insists is her real name) has called for the abolition of Fathers' Day, instead renaming it to "Special Person's Day". - August 22nd
Letting the Kids Stay in the Home While the Divorcing Parents Move In and Out. Is it Realistic?A recent Washington post article, titled "Letting the kids stay in the home while the divorcing parents move in and out. Is it realistic?," features DadsRights.org founder Anne P. Mitchell talking not only about why children need to have both parents in their lives after divorce, but also for the first time sharing her own personal experience with nesting. Nesting is when the children stay permanently in the family home, and the parents swap in and out. - August 21st
Child Seeking Money from Parents Can Be a Legal Party to Parents’ Divorce, says CourtA Pennsylvania appellate court has ruled that an adult child seeking money from their parents can become a party in their parents' divorce. In the case of Weber v. Weber, Judges Olson, Stabile, and Strassburger held that Michael Weber, the adult child of Beth Anne Weber and Mark Weber, had legal standing to join his parents' divorce action as a plaintiff in order to sue his father to enforce a provision saying that his parents would pay for college. - August 18th
Proposed Michigan Shared Custody Law Creates Presumed 50/50 Physical CustodyA new law is being proposed in Michigan that would change the Michigan Child Custody Act to a presumption of 50/50 physical custody absent evidence which demonstrates that a different custody arrangement should be used. The bill, House Bill 4691, was introduced by Republican State Representative Jim Runestad. - August 17th
Why You Probably Shouldn’t Fight for Sole CustodyMs. Mitchell was featured in an article over at CustodyxChange.com about why you probably shouldn't fight for sole custody. Ms. Mitchell is quoted under the heading "Save Your Money".
- July 7th
Mother’s Attempt at Kidnapping Children Goes Horribly Wrong – or RightIn one of the most high profile international child abduction cases in a while, an Australian mother, Sally Faulkner, who seems to have convinced an entire news program that the father of her children, Ali al-Amin, had taken and kept the children illegally, or, at least, improperly, has been charged with attempted kidnapping, along with the crew of the Australian 60 Minutes news show. - June 19th
Happy Father’s Day from DadsRights.orgHappy Father's Day! Please remember that no matter whether you are able to spend this Father's Day with your children or not, you are still, and always will be, their father. Happy Father's Day from DadsRights.org - May 25th
Single Fathers: If You Don’t Get Your Kids for Fathers’ Day this May be WhyAs Fathers' Day approaches, many single dads find themselves in the untenable situation of being fathers, yet not being able to be with their children on that most fatherly of all holidays, Fathers' Day. This may be why. - May 6th
Should Men be Able to Decline Paternity During Same Period that Women Can Get an Abortion?In what is unfortunately being called a 'male abortion', conversations are happening about whether men should have the right to decline paternity for an unplanned pregnancy during the same period of time in which the woman could legally have an abortion. - May 3rd
Woman Tries to Pin Boyfriend’s Sex Abuse of Toddler Daughters on Their Father – Has Rights TerminatedA Michigan woman who last year tried to blame her ex, the father of her twin toddler daughters, for sexual abuse of their daughters, when her new boyfriend was actually the perpetrator, has had her parental rights terminated, in addition to serving 30 days in jail, and having two years of probation. The girls' father now has full custody. - May 2nd
Journalist Blames Right to Contact with Both Parents for Damage Done to Women in Family CourtIn the below news report, a journalist blames the family court rule that a child has the right to regular contact with both children for the "damage done" to women, mainly that their accusations of abuse don't work to get the "abuser" out of the child's life. While there are women who are genuinely in fear, it's also true that lots of women make accusations of domestic violence (DV) during divorce in hopes that it will persuade the court to give them sole custody, and get that "loser, abuser man" out of their lives. - May 1st
Children Taken by Mothers and Adopted by Step-Fathers Helped by New Access to Birth and Adoption RecordsThe move in many states, such as in Colorado in the story linked below, to provide for more open access to birth records and adoption records, has had an effect that is all too rarely swept under the rug: allowing grown children whose mothers have removed them from their fathers lives, and had another man adopt and raise them as their own, to finally be able to learn who their real fathers are, and to reach out and contact them. - February 22nd
Passports and the Truth about How the Federal Real ID Requirements for Travel Will Impact Child Support PayersYou may have heard that starting this year you will need a passport to travel by air, even within the United States. While this is not accurate, what is true is that starting in 2018 (not 2016) you will need a compliant driver's license or other ID card in order to travel by air, and one such acceptable form of identification is a passport. However, it is not true that if you don't have a passport and are from Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire or New York (these are the states mentioned most often in the misinformation), you will be unable to board a domestic flight. Here are the facts. - February 9th
What ObamaCare Requires of Divorced ParentsNow that ObamaCare has been in full swing for over a year, you may wonder how it affects divorced parents. - January 22nd
Divorce and Separation – A Child’s PerspectiveIt is always the children that suffer the most when a marriage breaks down and separation or divorce is imminent. They become confused and insecure and their life seems as if it is in turmoil. Here we explain some of the issues from a child’s perspective. - January 22nd
Ex Wants to Move Child to Another State - January 22nd
Can Primary Parenting Father Retain Custody? - January 22nd
How Do We Track Down a Missing Child or Grandchild? - January 22nd
Change of Custody with Unstable Ex ? - January 22nd
How Do We Track Down a Missing Child or Grandchild? - January 22nd
Ex Wants to Move Child to Another State - January 22nd
Ex Wants to Move Child to Another State - January 22nd
What Is Reasonable Visitation? - January 22nd
Backlash and the Fact of Battered Husbands - January 22nd
Buried Memories – Shattered Lives - January 22nd
Male Victims of Sexual Abuse - January 22nd
A Rant About Operation AmberThis is a rant which has been a long time in coming. That’s because I see it nearly every day. You see, I subscribe to the Operation Amber mailing list. That’s pretty amazing to think about, isn’t it? That there are Amber Alerts every single day. And that’s the issue. And that’s what this rant is about. Perhaps even the average citizen could notice it, but being a former father’s rights attorney, I particularly recognize it. - January 22nd
How Do We Track Down a Missing Child or Grandchild? - January 22nd
Frustration or Denial of Visitation - January 22nd
Why Isn’t Child Support Tax Deductible or Pre-Tax? - January 22nd
How “Economists” Calculate Child Support - January 22nd
A Brief Explanation of “Community Property” - January 22nd
Is His 401k Community Property? - January 22nd
Business Owners and Divorce - January 22nd
Attachment Parenting and Divorce - January 22nd
What Are Arbitration and Mediation - January 22nd
Bankruptcy - January 22nd
Business Owners and Divorce - January 22nd
A Summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act - January 22nd
Repair Your Credit Like A Financial Expert - January 22nd
Eight Ways to Sink Yourself Financially - January 22nd
Help to Get Out of Debt - January 22nd
Debt Management and Debt Help for Single Fathers - January 22nd
The Maternal Bond – Part I – The Dilemma - January 22nd
The Maternal Bond – Part 2 – The Women - January 22nd
The Maternal Bond – Part 3 – The Men - January 22nd
The Maternal Bond – Part 4 – The Family Law System - January 22nd
The Maternal Bond – Part 5 – Society - January 22nd
The Maternal Bond – Part 6 – Conclusion - January 22nd
Some Good News About Blended Families - January 22nd
Seven Simple Tips About Child Custody Issues - January 22nd
Top Seven Tips to Become a Good Stepmother - January 5th
Are Gambling Losses Tax Deductible? - January 5th
Is His 401k Community Property?
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