Articles

Share the Knowledge

2023
  • January 18th
    How to Find a Father’s Rights Lawyer and What to Look For in a Fathers’ Rights Attorney
    Here's how to find a father's rights lawyer, and also what to look for in a fathers' rights attorney. Of course, finding a father's rights attorney is just the first step, and doesn't guarantee that you'll find a good one, so we are also including what to look for in an attorney for dads, and even some questions to ask them when you meet with them.
  • January 13th
    Some Reasons that Fathers are Treated Differently than Mothers in Custody
    There are many reasons that fathers are treated differently than mothers when it comes to custody and parenting time. And there are many societal factors that can influence how fathers are treated compared to mothers, even in countries where the law is supposed to treat them equally. Knowing what these factors are can help you to successfully address them.
2022
  • November 19th
    The 3 Main Factors that Go Into a Fathers Rights for Overnight Visits
    A fathers rights for overnight visits involve several factors. As such, a night-time parenting time schedule needs to take these into account, and is determined by the various factors such as the child’s age and the child’s schedule. Of course the best interest of the kids is also very important, so it's important to position overnight parenting time accordingly. Here are the three main factors that go into determining an overnight parenting time schedule for dad.
  • November 1st
    The Abused Father: Co-Parenting After Domestic Violence
    Co-parenting after domestic violence is a sensitive, difficult subject, made even more so because many people don't realize that often the father who is co-parenting after domestic violence was the domestic violence victim. This is because men very rarely report being abused by the mother of their children, even though it happens nearly as often as the other way around. Here are a few top guidelines that can prepare an abused father for a successful co-parenting relationship.
  • October 25th
    A Fathers Rights for Child Support Depends on These Factors
    If you are a single dad, or a soon-to-be single dad, it's a good idea to understand a fathers rights for child support, so you know what is required of you, and what you should expect. Under current family law each parent is required to support their children financially after a separation. Different states have formulas they follow to determine child support, and all of them use the following key factors.
  • October 17th
    How To Ensure a Father’s Equal Rights
    Having a fathers’ equal rights has always been in the best interests of the children. So the key to ensuring a father's equal rights is to demonstrate that dad has the best interest of the child at heart. After all, fathers' equal rights are really about the child's right to have a good relationship with their father as well as with their mother, and making sure that the child’s quality of life is not disrupted by the separation.
  • October 15th
    3 Tips to Determine if a Fathers Rights Divorce Attorney Is the Right One for You
    You may need the services of a fathers rights divorce attorney for different reasons, such as requesting better child custody arrangements, or addressing child support payments. The perfect attorney is one who can represent your interests vigorously while still prioritizing the best interests of the kids. With so many family law attorneys out there marketing themselves as the best, finding the right one can be hard, but it doesn't have to be. These three tips will help you determine whether a particular fathers rights attorney is the right one for you.
  • October 7th
    Co-parenting: Fathers Have Rights Too
    Many people in the society often think mothers have the upper hand when it comes to divorce and child custody bargains. And many see fathers as undeserving to be in the lives of their children after a divorce. But these are just misconceptions that are not based on facts. Fathers have rights too, and they should not be shut out by mothers, or courts for that matter. If you are going through a co-parenting arrangement process and are scared of being treated unfairly just because you are the father, it helps to understand that you have every right to continue playing an active role in your children’s lives, and that you are protected by the law.
  • October 1st
    Is Co-parenting a Good Idea for Fathers?
    Most men dream of raising their children inside a happy, supportive family, and they pour their hearts out to their children as they grow. But sometimes divorce shatters the dream of a happy family under one roof. When this happens, kids are often the biggest victims. Co-parenting goes a long way towards reducing the impact of divorce on kids. It is true that co-parenting comes with its fair share of challenges. But beyond all the misunderstandings and frustrations, choosing co-parenting is one of the greatest decisions you could ever make post-divorce.
  • October 1st
    Co-parenting in Colorado for the Good of Your Kids
    Colorado divorce and co-parenting laws heavily lean towards reducing the likelihood of children suffering as a result of divorce. The law (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14- 10- 124) recognizes the importance of the children remaining in contact with both parents, guided by a working arrangement. For instance, the law requires potential divorced persons to attend co-parenting classes before completing a separation whenever minors are in the picture. Here are some useful insights to help as you get ready to take part in co-parenting in Colorado.
  • August 20th
    Need a Fathers Rights Helpline? Try One of These 9 Free Hotlines
    Trying to find a fathers rights helpline, especially in a time of need, can be daunting. You may already be stressed, or frustrated, and then trying to find a fathers rights helpline, let alone one that is legit, can add to the stress. Here are a few dads rights helplines that you can try. Keep in mind that most fathers rights hotlines can't give straight up legal advice, because they are not staffed by lawyers. However, if you need fathers rights legal advice, most fathers rights lawyers and law firms will give you either a free or low-cost consultation. If you do specifically need legal advice concerning fathers rights, we also list a few fathers' rights legal helplines maintained by lawyers and law firms at the end of this article, but do be aware that they are likely to soft-sell you to retain their firm.
  • June 17th
    Father’s Day for Single Fathers – A Day to Celebrate Fatherhood No Matter What
    Father's Day for single fathers can bring mixed emotions. Fathers Day for single dads can be a reminder of what once was; of Fathers' Days past when dad was there in the mornings to greet the new day with their children, and at night to tuck them in. Or, Fathers Day for a single father may be looked forward to with joyful anticipation, if they get to spend Fathers Day with their child even after the disuniting of the family. 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. That is something that nobody can take away from you, ever.
  • June 8th
    Is Child Support Tax Deductible? No, and Here’s Why.
    We often get asked is child support tax deductible, in other words is child support deductible on taxes? We also get asked can you claim taxes on child support. The answer to all of these is "no", you can't deduct child support paid from your gross income, nor does someone have to claim child support as income. Here's a plain English explanation as to why.
  • May 26th
    How to Divorce Without Hurting Your Child: Step 2
    While it is impossible to break up or divorce without impacting your child or children, it is possible to break up or divorce without hurting your child. Children are most often hurt during the divorce process because their parents are blind and deaf to the damage that their own issues are doing to their child. It's so important to remember that you are breaking up with or divorcing the other parent, your children aren't.
  • May 26th
    Do Child Support Payments Include Retirement Benefits or Financial Losses?
    We received a question regarding child support payments from a dad in Colorado. In addition to advising him to contact a child support lawyer in Colorado, we figured that we should share some general advice about child support payments, retirement benefits, and financial losses, as well as briefly explain the differences between a community property state and an equitable distribution state.
  • May 15th
    Complete List of State Putative Father Registries
    This is a complete list of the putative father registries of each state, current as of June, 2021. Several states do not maintain putative father registries, however some of those provide alternate means for putative fathers to register themselves as the father of their child. If you were never married to the mother of your child, and have not otherwise legally established your paternity, it is important to register your paternity of your child with your state as soon as you can.
  • May 15th
    What is a Putative Father and a Putative Father Registry?
    If you're wondering "What is a putative father registry?" (or just what is a putative father generally), we're here to clear that up for you. The term "putative" means that the putative thing is generally considered to be, or reputed to be, whatever that thing is known to be. So in the case of a putative father it means that the person is generally considered to be the father. But in the legal world this isn't enough, a father's paternity must be legally recognized by the fact that the father was married to the child's mother when the child was conceived or born, or, if they were not married, then proven by legally recognized evidence, such as a DNA test.
  • May 12th
    Unmarried Fathers Rights: How to Establish Parental Rights as an Unmarried Father
    Unmarried fathers rights are not automatic, as unmarried fathers have an extra hurdle that must be cleared which married and separated or divorced fathers don't. As fathers' rights attorney Anne Mitchell explains, "In most states the rights of unmarried fathers don't even exist until the unmarried father is legally recognized as the father, and unless the father is already on the birth certificate this means that they must establish their paternity."
  • May 9th
    How to Break Up or Divorce Without Hurting Your Child: Step 1
    We are often asked how to divorce or break up without hurting your child. In this series we share seven steps to help ensure that your children stay well adjusted after your divorce or break up, and are shielded from the fallout of your splitting up with their other parent.
2021202020192018
  • December 20th
    New Zealand Refuses to Return Child Kidnapped From Malaysia
    The 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 Transgender
    A 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 Cherish
    The 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 Parents
    On 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 Custody
    The Supreme Court of India says parents can remarry without risking custody.
  • November 2nd
    Custody Battle Possible Motive for Double Homicide
    Investigators 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 Rates
    Simply 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 Fathers
    Custody 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 Truth
    It 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 Child
    The 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 Law
    Idaho 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 Issues
    Hiring 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 Mother
    Retired 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 Rights
    Sperm 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 Courts
    The 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 Need
    Books 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 System
    In 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 States
    Society 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 Divorce
    Issues 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 Lawyers
    Super 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 State
    For 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 Custody
    A 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 Others
    Mr. 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 Holidays
    Whether 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 Day
    For 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 13th
    Equal Custody Rights for Fathers Blocked by Special Interests
    Share the Knowledge The National Parents Organization has polled the American public in several states and found that the vast majority, over 70%, support joint physical custody after divorce whenever possible. Increasingly, old fashioned ideas have fallen out of favor — that children belong with their nurturing, caregiver mothers, while...
  • June 7th
    State by State Breakdown of Average Parenting Time for Dads – Which States Give the Most and Least Time to Fathers
    A 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 Senator
    Residents 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 Events
    Fathers' 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’ Rights
    The 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 Absence
    Former 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 It
    As 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 Agreement
    In 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 Deduction
    With 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 Firm
    The 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 Avoid
    DadsRights.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 Knowing
    Did 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.
2017
  • October 24th
    Mother’s False Accusations Lead to Misuse of Amber Alert
    A 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 Time
    A 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 Legislature
    Missouri 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 Germany
    Police 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 Mother
    Police 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 Wrist
    Brandon 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 Ago
    While 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, Ohio
    Toledo, 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 Pennsylvania
    There 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 Alienation
    In 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 Court
    A 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 Custody
    A 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 Custody
    Ms. 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".
2016
  • July 7th
    Mother’s Attempt at Kidnapping Children Goes Horribly Wrong – or Right
    In 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.org
    Happy 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 Why
    As 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 Terminated
    A 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 Court
    In 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 Records
    The 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 Payers
    You 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 Parents
    Now 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 Perspective
    It 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
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., I am in Albuquerque, NM, and facing a relocation mediation situation sometime in October. From what I get from my lawyer, there is a “heavy burden of proof” on my ex and her husband of three weeks to show “compelling reason” for them to relocate...
  • January 22nd
    Can Primary Parenting Father Retain Custody?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., I’m hoping you can send me in the right direction. I’m a single parent who has had primary custody of my five year old son for the past four and a half years. My ex-wife has now decided it is time to be a mother...
  • January 22nd
    How Do We Track Down a Missing Child or Grandchild?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., How do we find an address for our missing grandson? Before custody papers were filed my son’s ex-girlfriend fled with his son. The courts, lawyers, and everyone we have talked to cannot help until he gets an address to serve her papers for visitation. How...
  • January 22nd
    Change of Custody with Unstable Ex ?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., I have been divorced since 2003 and previous to that separated since 2002. I went to court to get joint physical and legal custody since I thought it would be best for the children and the judge granted me this. I moved on with my...
  • January 22nd
    Change of Custody After Child Has Already Been Moved Away?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., I went through a divorce about 3 years ago. Though the divorce was fairly painless, parenting issues have become tougher and tougher. I had moved to a different state for my job, and then returned home to where my son lived. His mother and I...
  • January 22nd
    In Our Hearts and In Our Minds: Staying Close To Your Non-Custodial Child Regardless of Geographical Distance
    Share the Knowledge By FamilyWare Nov 28, 2004, 01:54 Summary: How do we, as non-custodial parents, try to maintain a normal relationship with our child, even though in some cases, our child lives 3,000 miles away? How do we maintain a closeness to our children, so close to their hearts,...
  • January 22nd
    How Do We Track Down a Missing Child or Grandchild?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., How do we find an address for our missing grandson? Before custody papers were filed my son’s ex-girlfriend fled with his son. The courts, lawyers, and everyone we have talked to cannot help until he gets an address to serve her papers for visitation. How...
  • January 22nd
    Change of Custody After Child Has Already Been Moved Away?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., I went through a divorce about 3 years ago. Though the divorce was fairly painless, parenting issues have become tougher and tougher. I had moved to a different state for my job, and then returned home to where my son lived. His mother and I...
  • January 22nd
    Ex Wants to Move Child to Another State
    Share the Knowledge Sep 3, 2004, 19:36 Summary: I am in Albuquerque, NM, and facing a relocation mediation situation sometime in October. From what I get from my lawyer, there is a “heavy burden of proof” on my ex and her husband of three weeks to show “compelling reason” for...
  • January 22nd
    Change of Custody After Child Has Already Been Moved Away?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., I went through a divorce about 3 years ago. Though the divorce was fairly painless, parenting issues have become tougher and tougher. I had moved to a different state for my job, and then returned home to where my son lived. His mother and I...
  • January 22nd
    Ex Wants to Move Child to Another State
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., I am in Albuquerque, NM, and facing a relocation mediation situation sometime in October. From what I get from my lawyer, there is a “heavy burden of proof” on my ex and her husband of three weeks to show “compelling reason” for them to relocate...
  • January 22nd
    What Is Reasonable Visitation?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., What is considered reasonable visitation? I would love to get my children as much as I can. Can you offer any advice? Thanks! Ken — Dear Ken,   DadsRights.org is always free, always reader-supported. Your support via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal is appreciated. Receipts will...
  • January 22nd
    When Parents are Both Minors and Their Families Object
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq. I have a brief question. A friend of a friend has a younger sister, 16 years old, who became pregnant by a young man of the same age. In a nutshell, the girl’s family mistreats her now because she is Mexican and her boyfriend is...
  • January 22nd
    Testimony Regarding False Allegations Before the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families
    Share the Knowledge By Douglas J. Besharov Nov 28, 2004, 02:22 Summary: Douglas J. Besharov, J.D. , LL.M. , is a Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C. He was the first director of the U.S. National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1975-1979. His most recent book...
  • January 22nd
    Backlash and the Fact of Battered Husbands
    Share the Knowledge By James Sniechowski, Ph.D. and Judith Sherven, Ph.D. Nov 28, 2004, 02:13 Summary: One way to trivialize and dismiss a point of view is to claim it is part of a backlash. That is the contemptuous and derogatory characterization often applied when the topic of men’s issues...
  • January 22nd
    Buried Memories – Shattered Lives
    Share the Knowledge By Elizabeth F. Loftus and Laura A. Rosenwald Nov 28, 2004, 02:05 Summary: While no one can doubt the horror of child sex abuse, the powers of suggestion may be helping some adults recall events that never happened. Where those victims once found healing, others now claim...
  • January 22nd
    Faulty Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse: Legal and Emotional Sequelae
    Share the Knowledge By Diane K. Schetky, M.D. and Harold Boverman, M.D. Nov 28, 2004, 01:04 Summary: Increased awareness of child sexual abuse has caused the pendulum to swing the other way to the point where unsubstantiated reported cases may now outnumber documented ones. If one includes all child abuse...
  • January 22nd
    Male Victims of Sexual Abuse
    Share the Knowledge By Pitzer Nov 28, 2004, 00:29 Summary: Throughout the past decade, there has been an increase in reports of child sexual abuse, largely because of improved education and prevention efforts. But the focus historically has been on female victims, with minimal attention to boys and adult male...
  • January 22nd
    A Rant About Operation Amber
    This 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?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., How do we find an address for our missing grandson? Before custody papers were filed my son’s ex-girlfriend fled with his son. The courts, lawyers, and everyone we have talked to cannot help until he gets an address to serve her papers for visitation. How...
  • January 22nd
    Frustration or Denial of Visitation
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., What is considered reasonable visitation? I would love to get my children as much as I can. Can you offer any advice? Thanks! Ken — Dear Ken,   DadsRights.org is always free, always reader-supported. Your support via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal is appreciated. Receipts will...
  • January 22nd
    Can a Non-Custodial Parent Be Forced to Pay College Tuition?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., My ex-wife Mary and I separated before Matthew was born, not knowing he was coming. Matt is now 18. I’ve paid child support voluntarily for 18 years, every month. Mary, a Westchester County, NY elementary school teacher, makes almost twice as much money as I...
  • January 22nd
    Child Support Arrears for Child He Didn’t Even Know Existed
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq. My husband has a 9 year old daughter from a woman he barely knew. She is a woman who has 4 kids by 3 fathers and was never married to any of them. My husband found out he had a child from the District Attorney,...
  • January 22nd
    How “Economists” Calculate Child Support
    Share the Knowledge By Dr. David Garrod Nov 28, 2004, 02:31 Summary: What we want to know is the true cost of raising children as a function of the income of the parents. However no such precise data exist. We have to infer the cost of raising children from the...
  • January 22nd
    A Brief Explanation of “Community Property”
    Share the Knowledge There are at least two types of state schemes for the division of marital property at the time of divorce or death. One of these types is called “equitable distribution”, by which the Court is supposed to look at the whole picture of the family’s assets, debts,...
  • January 22nd
    Is His 401k Community Property?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., My husband and I have been married for 21 years. We live in California, and I am considering a divorce. Is his 401K considered community property? What about our seperate IRA accounts? California is indeed a community property state. Generally speaking, anything acquired during the...
  • January 22nd
    Business Owners and Divorce
    Share the Knowledge Sep 3, 2004, 20:11 Summary: Business owners who find themselves going through a divorce or separation are often suprised to find that, on top of all the other things with which they have to deal, their very business may be at stake – even at risk –...
  • January 22nd
    Attachment Parenting and Divorce
    Share the Knowledge Attachment parenting is one of the most wonderful gifts which you can give to your children. Attachment parenting has as one of its hallmarks the fact that it is demonstrated, again and again, to raise very secure, well-grounded children. This makes attachment parenting even more important, if...
  • January 22nd
    What Are Arbitration and Mediation
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq., What are arbitration and mediation? Do they mean the same thing? Are they different? When should you use mediation or arbitration instead of using a lawyer or going to court? Thank you. Wondering — Dear Wondering,   DadsRights.org is always free, always reader-supported. Your support...
  • January 22nd
    Understanding Structured Settlements and their Advantages
    Share the Knowledge By Josh Murray Jul 13, 2005, 20:56 Summary: Put in simple terms, a structured settlement is merely an agreement that’s reached between a plaintiff and defendant that outlines the flow of payment that the plaintiff receives, due to injury. Note: Guest Author articles made available as a...
  • January 22nd
    Bankruptcy
    Share the Knowledge Jul 5, 2004 Bankruptcy. The very word “bankruptcy” used to strike fear and loathing into many a heart. Years ago, filing for personal bankruptcy was considered one of the most shameful things which a person could do. Now, however, while bankruptcy still should be considered a last...
  • January 22nd
    Business Owners and Divorce
    Share the Knowledge Business owners who find themselves going through a divorce or separation are often suprised to find that, on top of all the other things with which they have to deal, their very business may be at stake – even at risk – and may become the subject...
  • January 22nd
    A Summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
    Share the Knowledge By Gary Gresham / Jul 13, 2005 Summary: With the free credit report act having gone into effect, there is just no excuse for not getting a handle on your own credit situation. This article explains your rights under both the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the...
  • January 22nd
    Repair Your Credit Like A Financial Expert
    Share the Knowledge By John Simpson / Jul 13, 2005, 22:11 Summary: Free credit reports are the key to starting the process of credit repair. This article tells you how to do your own credit repair in three easy steps. Note: Guest Author articles made available as a courtesy to...
  • January 22nd
    Eight Ways to Sink Yourself Financially
    Share the Knowledge By Richmond Acheampong / Jul 13, 2005, 22:05 Summary: Credit cards, financial plans, and investments all have both good and bad sides. If you don’t put them to good use, or abuse them, or, in some cases, don’t have them at all, it can lead to financial...
  • January 22nd
    Help to Get Out of Debt
    Share the Knowledge By Janet Williams / Jul 13, 2005, 21:29 Summary: Debt consolidation and debt management are two ways to help deal with credit card debt, and other crushing debt. Debt consolitation and debt management services are available to help provide debt help, and to help you obtain debt...
  • January 22nd
    Debt Management and Debt Help for Single Fathers
    Share the Knowledge Summary: Debt management, debt help, and expense management are doubly daunting for the divorced or single father who often has to support more than one household. This article contains information which may provide some surprising and welcome relief. Credit and debt issues are some of the most...
  • January 22nd
    The Maternal Bond – Part I – The Dilemma
    Share the Knowledge By Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. Dec 3, 2004, 11:30 Summary: The Maternal Bond was originally published in the American Journal of Family Law, and is serialized here at DadsRights.org by special arrangement with the author. THE MATERNAL BOND 1992 (c) Anne P. Mitchell, Stanford Law School Published...
  • January 22nd
    The Maternal Bond – Part 2 – The Women
    Share the Knowledge By Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. Dec 3, 2004, 11:29 Summary: The Maternal Bond was originally published in the American Journal of Family Law, and is serialized here at DadsRights.org by special arrangement with the author. THE MATERNAL BOND 1992 (c) Anne P. Mitchell, Stanford Law School Published...
  • January 22nd
    The Maternal Bond – Part 3 – The Men
    Share the Knowledge By Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. Dec 3, 2004, 11:28 Summary: The Maternal Bond was originally published in the American Journal of Family Law, and is serialized here at DadsRights.org by special arrangement with the author. THE MATERNAL BOND 1992 (c) Anne P. Mitchell, Stanford Law School Published...
  • January 22nd
    The Maternal Bond – Part 4 – The Family Law System
    Share the Knowledge By Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. Dec 3, 2004, 11:27 Summary: The Maternal Bond was originally published in the American Journal of Family Law, and is serialized here at DadsRights.org by special arrangement with the author. THE MATERNAL BOND 1992 (c) Anne P. Mitchell, Stanford Law School Published...
  • January 22nd
    The Maternal Bond – Part 5 – Society
    Share the Knowledge By Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. Dec 3, 2004, 11:19 Summary: The Maternal Bond was originally published in the American Journal of Family Law, and is serialized here at DadsRights.org by special arrangement with the author. THE MATERNAL BOND 1992 (c) Anne P. Mitchell, Stanford Law School Published...
  • January 22nd
    The Maternal Bond – Part 6 – Conclusion
    Share the Knowledge By Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. Dec 3, 2004, 11:18 Summary: The Maternal Bond was originally published in the American Journal of Family Law, and is serialized here at DadsRights.org by special arrangement with the author. THE MATERNAL BOND 1992 (c) Anne P. Mitchell, Stanford Law School Published...
  • January 22nd
    Surviving as a Single Parent: Seven Simple Suggestions to Make Your Life Easier
    Share the Knowledge By Danielle Hollister Nov 8, 2004, 23:51 Summary: Danielle Hollister is the Quotations Editor at BellaOnline and Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine. [Note: The Guest Authors’ area is made available as a courtesy to our readers. The advice and opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of...
  • January 22nd
    Some Good News About Blended Families
    Share the Knowledge By Lisa Cohn Nov 8, 2004, 23:46 Summary: Lisa Cohn, an award-winning writer, is co-author of One Family, Two Family, New Family: Stories And Advice For Stepfamilies. [Note: The Guest Authors’ area is made available as a courtesy to our readers. The advice and opinions expressed therein...
  • January 22nd
    Seven Simple Tips About Child Custody Issues
    Share the Knowledge By Danielle Hollister Nov 8, 2004, 22:50 Summary: Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine – A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like – love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more....
  • January 22nd
    Top Seven Tips to Become a Good Stepmother
    Share the Knowledge By Denielle Hollister Nov 8, 2004, 22:15 Summary: Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine – A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like – love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more....
  • January 5th
    Who Gets the Tax Exemption for a Child of Divorce?
    Share the Knowledge Summary: I am divorced, and my daughter lives with my ex. I pay nearly 100% of all expenses for my daughter, and certainly far more than half. I can take the tax exemption for my daughter, right? This is a very timely question. With tax season soon...
  • January 5th
    Are Gambling Losses Tax Deductible?
    Share the Knowledge Summary: My wife and I took a trip to Las Vegas this year, and while we did not go over our budget, we did suffer a bit of a loss at the blackjack table in the casino. I have been told by a friend that it may...
  • January 5th
    Marriage or Divorce – Check Your Social Security Number
    Share the Knowledge Summary: Newlyweds and the recently divorced should make sure that names on their tax returns match those registered with the Social Security Administration (SSA). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN7gcNXhf8k Join Our Dads Rights Email Community! G We respect your email privacy | Powered by AWeber Email Marketing DadsRights.org is always free,...
  • January 5th
    Is His 401k Community Property?
    Share the Knowledge Dear Esq, My husband and I have been married for 21 years. We live in California, and I am considering a divorce. Is his 401K considered community property? What about our separate IRA accounts? Wondering — Dear Wondering,   DadsRights.org is always free, always reader-supported. Your support...

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