"The monster that you have painted for the world to see, I don't think that monster existed...for everything you've accused him of, there never was proof, just accusations. I think that's sad because he can't speak for himself."-- Diane Winkler, Matthew Winkler's mother

My new co-authored column, No child custody for husband-killer Mary Winkler (World Net Daily, 9/14/07), argues that Winkler got off with a slap on the wrist, is psychologically disturbed, and shouldn't be granted custody of her three children.

To write a Letter to the Editor of World Net Daily, click here.

Ned Holstein, M.D., Executive Director of Fathers & Families, has been particularly annoyed over the events surrounding Winkler, and co-authored the column with me.

No child custody for husband-killer Mary Winkler
By Glenn Sacks and Ned Holstein, M.D.

A killer shoots his spouse in the back, and then pulls the phone cord out so the victim can't call 911. As the victim slowly bleeds to death, the killer abducts their three children and flees to another state.

An Amber Alert is declared for the missing children, and the killer is hunted down by police, caught, and tried. Were the killer a man, he would be locked away for life. However, this killer is a woman, Mary Winkler. The kid gloves treatment she has received from the legal system demonstrates how courts tilt heavily in favor of women when adjudicating claims of domestic abuse.

Mary Winkler told the court that Matthew had abused her physically, sexually and emotionally. For that reason, the

Dads of Michigan, the American Coalition for Fathers and Children's Michigan affiliate, is joining with other Michigan shared parenting advocates in sponsoring an Equal Parents Week rally at the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday, September 26. The rally will be held at the Capitol Building on Capitol Street in Lansing between 9 AM and 11 AM. For more information, call Dads of Michigan at 248-559-DADS (3237), or write them at info@dadsofmichigan.org.

Dads of Michigan and their allies are fighting to pass HB 4564, a shared parenting bill. They have the votes to pass the bill but are fighting to get it out of committee, where it is bottled up. Shared parenting activist Derrick Scott-Farnsworth urges Michigan moms and dads to come to the rally and "be prepared to visit your elected politicians' office to discuss the issue of equal parental access for your children."

In May, the Michigan National Organization for Women put out an Action Alert opposing HB 4564. NOW wrote:

"Joint custody is more expensive, as it presupposes the maintenance of two households with sufficient room and necessities for the children."

In other words, it's more economically efficient for the child to live with mom in a household dad finances, and for the child to see dad in a park on Sundays and no more. This is hardly in the best interests of children. And since NOW is interested in economic efficiency, I would argue that it's more economically efficient to not get divorced to begin with, but since the vast majority of divorces are initiated by women, NOW is not about to come out against divorce.

I discussed NOW's other reasons for opposing Michigan shared parenting in my column HB 5267 Will Help Michigan's Children of Divorce (Lansing State Journal, 5/28/06), which I co-authored with ACFC Executive Director Mike McCormick.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

I've often noted that the media is very hesitant to use the term "domestic violence" when the victim is a man. The story "Victim of Domestic Violence Dies at Hospital" from Eyewitness News in Memphis is a commendable exception. Read the story here. To commend the station for its story, write to newsdesk@myeyewitnessnews.com.

To learn more about the problems with the way our media and legal system treat domestic violence, click here.

BTW, for those who insist that DV against men isn't serious, in this case the man died. The killer will probably claim she's a victim of abuse and get off with a slap on the wrist, as many women who kill their husbands or boyfriends do. We'll see.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click  here.

Fathers & Families: Advocacy for the Child-Father Bond Fathers & Families is a non-profit organization advocating for the right of every child to have two parents. Called by some a "fathers' rights organization," Fathers & Families is made up of men and women who believe that fathers are an essential part of a child's life and that divorce or separation should not change this. www.FathersandFamilies.org    FALSELY ACCUSED IN TEXAS? Domestic Violence. Child Sexual Assault. Child Protective Services Defense. Contact the Law Office of Stuckle & Ferguson www.PaulStuckle.com / falseaccusations@stuckle-ferguson.com

"George Howard Buell, an inmate wrongfully imprisoned at Stateville Correctional Center for third-degree sexual assault and aggravated battery, won't shut the hell up about being innocent.
 
"Buell, 46, an Elmhurst, IL electrician, was convicted of raping and burglarizing his elderly neighbor in 1994, despite the fact that he was at work when the crime occurred. He was mistakenly sentenced to a prison term of 20 years to life. Since then, his imprisonment has been a source of nonstop bellyaching."

The theme of the 2005 Onion satirical piece "Wrongly Imprisoned Man Won't Shut Up About It" is that George Howard Buell, an innocent man serving 20 years to life in prison, won't shut up and quit complaining about his situation. The piece is funny but also sad, and it's always reminded me of the reaction so many divorced dads get when they complain about the way they were treated in family court. Perhaps one day we'll see an Onion piece that reads something like this:

"George Johnson, a loving father of three who was permanently separated from the children he loves because of false charges of domestic violence, just won't shut up about it. Johnson, who was very involved in his children's lives until his wife decided she wanted a divorce and booted him out of his house on a restraining order, bellyaches nonstop over the fact that he cannot see his children."

Perhaps someday. The Onion piece is below.

Wrongly Imprisoned Man Won't Shut Up About It
The Onion
August 31, 2005

JOLIET, IL--George Howard Buell, an inmate wrongfully imprisoned at Stateville Correctional Center for third-degree sexual assault and aggravated battery, won't shut the hell up about being innocent.

Buell, 46, an Elmhurst, IL electrician, was convicted of raping and burglarizing his elderly neighbor in 1994, despite the fact that he was at work when the crime occurred. He was mistakenly sentenced to a prison term of 20 years to life. Since then, his imprisonment has been a source of nonstop bellyaching.

"I'm completely innocent of the charges brought against me," Buell said in yet another long-winded jailhouse statement last week. "I am a victim of inept police work, conflict-of-interest issues among the prosecution, and a lackadaisical defense. Anyone with even a peripheral familiarity with my case could see the inconsistencies. It's a complete miscarriage of justice."

Buell's insufferable tirades have taken the form of numerous appeals to state and federal courts, unsuccessful attempts to launch public petitions, and e-publishing a 400,000-word autobiography titled Won't Someone Please Hear My Anguished Plea?

"Okay, I get it--he's innocent already," said Eric Holsapple, Buell's court-appointed attorney. "Like I don't know that. I only toiled for, like, forever years making a case out of it. Every time I talk to him, I have to brace myself--okay, here comes the sob story, again."

To read more and to discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Background: Feminists have been vociferously protesting the case of Cassandra Hernandez (pictured). They claim she is the victim of a gang rape, who then was re-victimized by the military when they brought charges against her of underage drinking and committing indecent acts.

I was surprised and disturbed by the case, and asked one of my most intelligent readers, Stan Eads, to review the information in the case. I did not ask him to find reasons why the feminists are wrong--I told him, "what you find is what you find."

Stanton researched the issue and has come to the conclusion that the feminists have a legitimate cause for protest here. Based on his research, I think the facts surrounding the alleged rape are murky, and that the feminists may well be correct.

To read what Stan found, as well as the feminist view of the case and other information, see my blog post Are Feminist Protesters Correct on the Cassandra Hernandez Rape Case?

Perhaps in response to feminist pressure, the Air Force has decided that Cassandra Hernandez will not face a court-martial for charges of underage drinking and committing indecent acts. The article, from Kelcey Carlson and Anne Leake of WRAL in North Carolina, is below.

Alleged Air Force Rape Victim Won't Face Court Martial
(WRAL, 9/14/07)

Pope Air Force Base -- An Air Force enlisted woman who claimed to be the victim of a rape at Pope Air Force Base will not face a court-martial for offenses stemming from the case, the military announced.

Airman First Class Cassandra Hernandez had been scheduled to face a court-martial on Sept. 24 for charges of underage drinking and committing indecent acts.

Instead, 43rd Airlift Wing Commander Col. Timothy Zadalis administered nonjudicial punishment for the underage drinking charge. He also decided nonjudicial punishment was inappropriate for the indecent acts allegation and handled that charge through administrative action, a Pope spokesperson said.

Hernandez may appeal the rulings and submit information in response to the administrative action, officers said. She will remain in the Air Force.

"The actions taken are meant to be rehabilitative," Capt. Beverly G. Mock said in a press release. "The Air Force and the 43rd Airlift Wing Commander expect that Airman Hernandez will successfully continue to serve the Air Force and the nation."

The charges stemmed from events at a party on May 13, 2006. Hernandez reported to military officials that she was gang-raped by three other airmen at the party....

To read more and to discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Help for Midwest Fathers Cordell & Cordell is one of the largest domestic relations firms for men in the Midwest, representing fathers in Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Kansas, Indiana and Georgia. Men who come to Cordell & Cordell know that their interests and the interests of their children will be aggressively championed. www.cordellcordell.com Civil War - A Father's Guide to Winning Child Custody Joseph E. Cordell's Civil War - A Father's Guide to Winning Child Custody  gives fathers clear, easy-to-understand tips on how to achieve the best results possible in a divorce. Comprehensive chapters explain every step of the divorce process, the meaning of legal terms, how courts determine custody, and how to maximize chances of victory at every stage. Cordell is the founder of Cordell & Cordell.

Male consumers victimizing Mother Nature. In almost all editorial cartoons, men and only men are blamed for global warming and environmental problems. This cartoon by Jim Borgman of The Cincinnati Enquirer, is another example.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Ouch. From Ben Stein's recent CNN Money column Tales of the crash of 2007:

"One of my best friends, a blue-eyed, red-haired stunner and a math whiz, is married to a builder and mortgage broker near Naples, Fla. She flew into town, and I had lunch with her today. 'How is your husband taking all this stuff?' I asked her.
 
"'He doesn't sleep. At most he sleeps from 5 A.M. to 7 A.M. We built two spec homes near Naples. We spent $2.7 million on each of them. We had them listed for $4 million each. We haven't had one prospect in a year. We lowered the price by a million each. Still no prospects. We're losing $60,000 a month on the two of them. My husband has no business. None. The phone never rings.'

"'Horrible,' I said.

"'I'm leaving him,' she said. 'He's grouchy all the time. I want a guy who's rich and cheerful all day and all night. Why should I have to suffer because his business is bad?'

"'He's your husband,' I said. 'You have to stick by him.'

"'Why? I want to laugh and have fun, and he's in a bad mood for months on end. I didn't make this mortgage mess, and I don't see why I should have to suffer for it.'

"'It won't last,' I said. 'It never does.'

"She suddenly looked much more upbeat. 'How long until the market turns around?' she asked expectantly.

"'Maybe six years,' I said.

"She looked staggered. 'That's it,' she sighed. 'I want you to start looking for a rich husband for me who's going to stay rich no matter what. Tell him I'll be a really great wife.'"

To read more and to discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Online Dating Rights Online Dating Rights opposes the new federal International Marriage Broker Regulation Act, which requires Americans who seek to meet foreigners via the internet to have a criminal background check and an intrusive report about intimate details of one's life BEFORE any communication--the first time in US history that such checks have been required. www.onlinedatingrights.com SAMSONLAW--Divorce Lawyers for Michigan Men & Fathers If you're a Michigan man faced with divorce, you need SAMSONLAW on your side--SAMSONLAW defends men. Smart Advocacy Means Stopping Oppression Now. INeedSamson.com My Sara My Sara--How the Adoption Assistance Agency stole a baby girl away from her loving family and put her up for adoption, for a nice profit. To learn more about this incredible story, go to www.my-sara.com

Background: My recent co-authored column, Passport Rules Unfair to Child Support Debtors (San Antonio Express-News, 9/8/07), criticizes the new child support/passport rules which are so overwhelmingly popular among the editorial boards of our nation's newspapers. The column was a response to the Express-News' recent editorial "Federal law catching up with deadbeat parents" (8/23/07). I commend the paper for its willingness to publish such criticism.

Texas shared parenting advocate Don Mathis had a letter published in the Express-News concerning my column, in which he called upon the paper to "remove the word 'deadbeat' from its lexicon.' His letter is below, and can also be seen here.

Dads are dead broke, not deadbeat

The statistic from the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement quoted by Jeffery M. Leving and Glenn Sacks is more than interesting ("Passport rules unfair to child support debtors," Sept. 12). It was reported that fewer than 4 percent of the national child support debt is owed by those earning $40,000 or more a year.

Why is it that if a poor custodial mom cannot make ends meet, we offer her assistance? And if an impoverished noncustodial dad has the same problems, we make him a criminal?

It is time for the Express-News to remove the word "deadbeat" from its lexicon. "Dead broke" is more like it. Being poor should not be a crime.

--Don Mathis,
Sherman, Texas

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Happily Un-married! Living Together & Loving It! Living together is becoming widely accepted among all ages. Happily Un-married! is the first book to take a serious & non-judgmental look at helping these couples improve the fitness of their relationships. The rate of cohabitation is skyrocketing--10 million couples, 40% of whom have children. Happily Un-married! helps unmarried couples stabilize and strengthen their relationships. www.cohabitating.org Help for Georgia Dads Georgia attorney Edwin M. Saginar has 36 years of experience in family law and criminal defense, including domestic violence. He has seen many spouses falsely accuse their significant others of family violence, and knows how to defend your rights. www.edwinsaginar.com

Background: On various occasions I've discussed both the 2001 Elian Gonzalez case and the current "Elian Gonzalez II" case. In both cases I support the right of the fathers--Juan Gonzalez in 2001 and Rafael Izquierdo in the current case--to take their children back to Cuba and raise them as they see fit. To learn more, click here. Izquierdo is pictured to the right, in court fighting to regain custody of his little daughter.

I also strongly oppose situations such as these when governments delay or refuse to return kidnapped or detained children to their parents. In Elian I, Elian Gonzalez was held by Cuban relatives against his father's will for six months before being returned to his father. In Elian, II the state of Florida is doing everything it can do avoid returning Rafael Izquierdo's four-year-old girl to him.

In other cases, children are abducted internationally, and governments sometimes refuse to return the children to their parents. As David Levy of the Children's Rights Council noted in this letter, this is particularly a problem when children of American/Japanese heritage are abducted from the US and brought to Japan. 

A reader recently pointed out a case to me where the Cuban government quite properly returned two children to the United States who had been abducted from the US and taken to Cuba. In this 2003 case, an Egyptian-American father abducted his two children, first to Egypt, and then to Cuba. The American mother personally appealed to Fidel Castro to have the children returned. According to the BBC:

"The children's father, Anwar Wissa, had earlier been arrested and would stand trial in Cuba, according to a Cuban government communique.

"The Cuban authorities say the case appears to be a reversal of the highly publicized custody saga of Cuban castaway Elian Gonzalez.

"The case of the Wissa children emerged after their mother wrote a letter to Mr Castro, delivered by a 'friend of our commander in chief,' according to the official release.

"In the statement, read out on state television and published on the official Granma [Cuban state] website, the Cuba authorities said: 'Cuba will never forget that when five-year-old Elian Gonzalez was kidnapped by relatives who had no custody rights, more than 80% of the North Americans supported his return to Cuba, where his father and family resided.'

"'Cuban territory will never be used as a refuge to kidnap children, even if the perpetrator, as in this sad case, is the father.'"

The full BBC story is below.

Mother back with children in Cuba
BBC, 6/26/03

A US woman who sought Fidel Castro's help to get back her two children taken to Cuba by their father has been reunited with them, the mother's attorney has said.
Cornelia Streeter could finally embrace her son Henry Wissa, 10, and eight-year-old daughter Victoria - both US citizens - on Wednesday night in Cuba after nearly two years, the attorney, Barry Pollack, said from Boston.

To read more and to discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Alicia M. Crowe's Real Dads Stand Up! Alicia M. Crowe's new book Real Dads Stand Up! explains what every single father should know about child support, rights and custody. Learn how to exercise your legal rights, avoid 'baby mama drama', navigate the child support system, gain and maintain access to your children, and settle issues without going to trial. www.realdadsstandup.com Fathers' Rights Legal Help If you need help with divorce, child custody, child support, alimony and visitation issues, The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, Ltd. is one of the only law firms in the country focused almost exclusively on fathers' rights in divorce. Leving did heroic work on the Elian Gonzalez case, helping reunite Elian with his father. He also co-authored Illinois' Joint Custody Law, and was named one of "America's Best Lawyers" by Forbes Radio. Leving is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard Hitting and Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Call today for an initial consultation (312) 807-3990 or visit us on the web at www.dadsrights.com.

Bermuda Proclaims April 25th as Parental Alienation Awareness Day "Parental Alienation involves taking advantage of the suggestibility and dependency of children for the sole purpose of destroying a loving relationship they once shared with a parent." The Parental Alienation Awareness Organization/ www.Parental-Alienation-Awareness.com has made more progress in gaining recognition of Parental Alienation,  as Bermuda has now joined nine U.S. states in declaring April 25 "Parental Alienation Awareness Day." The PAAO's press release is below. Bermuda Proclaims April 25th as Parental Alienation Awareness Day MIAMI, Sept. 12 PRNewswire-USNewswire -- The Honorable Dale Butler, Minister of Rehabilitation, has signed a Proclamation declaring April 25th as Parental Alienation Awareness Day in the Islands of Bermuda. The Proclamation states that, "Parental Alienation involves taking advantage of the suggestibility and dependency of children for the sole purpose of destroying a loving relationship they once shared with a parent." The Proclamation also describes such alienating behaviors as speaking negatively about a parent, interfering with visitation and communication, and discussing inappropriate information, as confusing and frightening for children. To learn more about PAAD, contact Sarvy Emo at Tel: 416-840-5654, Fax: 866-232-8134 or at info@parental-alienation-awareness.com. To discuss this issue on my blog, click here. Help for Los Angeles/Ventura County Dads Certified Family Law Specialist Peter M. Walzer was one of the key figures in our successful legislative struggle to preserve the LaMusga move-away decision. As Chair of the State Bar of California Family Law Section Executive Committee, Walzer lobbied the state legislature to improve California laws on child support and child custody. He's an American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fellow who has authored numerous articles on custody issues, business valuation in marital dissolutions and spousal and child support.  www.California-Divorce.com The LaMusga Company The LaMusga Company provides customized solutions to assist individuals and business owners in reaching their financial goals. The LaMusga Company is committed to helping you accomplish your long-term financial objectives. LaMusgaCo.com John Hamel, LCSW--The Three Common Myths of Domestic Violence John Hamel, LCSW, a court-certified batterer treatment provider and author of the book Gender-Inclusive Treatment of Intimate Partner Abuse, has just come out with The Context of Intimate Partner Violence: Three Common Myths--An Annotated Bibliography. In it, Hamel identifies three common myths about Intimate Partner/Domestic Violence: MYTH #1:  Mutual abuse is a rare phenomenon.  Even if men and women assault each other at comparable rates, men are typically the initiators and the dominant partners. THE FACTS:  Most Intimate Partner Violence is mutual.  Women initiate somewhat more often than men. MYTH #2:   Men use violence intentionally to control their partners, whereas women use violence in self-defense, or as a way to express frustration or to communicate. THE FACTS:  Self-defense is an equally unlikely motive for both genders. Male and female perpetrators are motivated to abuse their partners for various reasons, including a desire to retaliate or to communicate feelings, and there is no convincing evidence that men are significantly more motivated to control. MYTH #3:  Only men are controlling and engage in the combination of repeat emotional and physical abuse known as "battering" or "intimate terrorism." THE FACTS:  Although women are far more often the victims of sexual coercion, they are just as likely as men to be the perpetrators of most psychological abuse and controlling behaviors, and this includes stalking when broadly defined. To read Hamel's full paper, click here. Hamel helped found the National Family Violence Legislative Resource Center and works with Michael Robinson and the California Alliance for Families and Children to reform California's domestic violence policies. The pair are sponsoring the ground-breaking conference "From Ideology to Inclusion" early next year. To discuss this issue on my blog, click here. Dr. Warren Farrell's Shared Parenting Evidence Kit--What You Need to Win Shared Physical Custody Dr. Warren Farrell, a top expert on children of divorce now offers a complete evidence kit to help you win shared custody.  The DVDs, audio CD and electronic files summarize the best scientific research available collected over decades.  Scientific research has proven that children do far better with near equal time with both parents with minimal conditions.  This video set was developed to educate parents, judges, lawyers, psychologists and other divorce professionals. Most judges are doing exactly what is worst for children with sole-custody.  Submitted as evidence this will maximize your chances. Divorce Reform groups call(508) 381-1450 to use as fundraiser. www.BestInterestofChildren.org   Help for Michigan Dads Michigan family law attorney Mindy L. Hitchcock has experience fighting for noncustodial parents against Michigan's abusive FOC. Her holistic approach to divorce gets results for her clients while avoiding the scorched earth approach to law that leaves families emotionally and financially devastated. Lady4Justice.com

'What bugs me about divorce...when they fight and yell...when I have to keep secrets' "What bugs me about divorce... "When they fight and yell... "When I have to keep secrets... "Not getting to see my friends...I miss my dog" Sharon Shenker's My Family Has Two Houses is a book for kids about divorce. On the page pictured, it asks kids to list "Things that bug me about my parents' divorce are..." I wonder what readers think their kids would list? To discuss this issue on my blog, click here. The Diary of a Patient Man--How a Male DV Victim Fought the System and Fought for His Child William Stoneking's The Diary of a Patient Man is the compelling and inspirational true story of a father's fight for his child against a violent ex-wife and a biased court system that tried to drive him away. Get it online or order your copy here. Are you or someone you love being abused? The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women provides crisis intervention and support services to victims of domestic violence and their families in order to help survivors recover from the trauma of domestic violence. Contact them by clicking here. 'Why We Insure Women Only' The following ad from 1st for Women Insurance Brokers purports to explain why they "Insure Women Only." Watch it here or below. The South African company explains: "Men are, generally a higher risk. By eliminating them, we can afford to give you huge reductions on your insurance premiums. Men probably won't like this but we don't care. All we care about is your needs. So ladies, read on to find out how you can save up to 40% on your car insurance premiums. "Call 0860 10 36 95 or complete the email quote below and join the thousands of women taking advantage of our lower premiums and special benefits." To learn more about the (usually) unflattering way men are portrayed in modern TV advertising, click here. To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Are You the Target of Parental Alienation? Parental alienation cases are among the most difficult and complicated in family law. J. Michael Bone, Ph.D., is an expert on parental alienation. If you're a target parent, he can help you get back into your children's lives. Bone has worked as a custody evaluator and as a therapist and knows how to help the court find the truth. His services are available throughout the U.S. Dr. Bone can be reached by phone at (407) 645-0662 or by email by clicking here. www.jmbconsulting.org     Help for Colorado Dads As someone who has personally experienced the heartbreak of divorce and family breakup, Brett W. Martin, Esq. works to advance the interests and concerns of fathers in domestic and family law litigation. Personal attention is given to clients to help them through a very difficult time in their lives. www.brettwmartin.com

My latest His Side with Glenn Sacks radio commentary for KLAA AM 830 in Los Angeles commends the Texas Supreme Court for allowing a lower court ruling to stand in the Roman v. Roman Texas frozen embryo case. In that case, Augusta Roman is trying to compel her ex-husband Randy Roman to allow embryos created while they were married to be implanted.

I've sided with Randy in the case. To listen to my radio commentary, click here.

To watch my debate with Augusta Roman and her attorney on Fox's nationally-syndicated Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, click here. To learn more, see my co-authored column Texas Frozen Embryo case--In Defense of a Man's Right to Choose (Houston Chronicle, 6/14/07, Baltimore Sun, 6/17/07), and my recent blog post Texas Supreme Court Gets It Right, Dumps Frozen Embryo Lawsuit.

His Side with Glenn Sacks radio commentaries are broadcast daily on KLAA AM 830, a 50,000 watt talk station in Los Angeles and Orange County. KLAA AM 830 is owned by Arte Moreno, owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. KLAA hosts include Glenn Beck and Michael Savage.

From 2003-2005, His Side with Glenn Sacks ran in a syndicated talk show format in Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Seattle, and other cities. To listen to show archives, click here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

My Family Has Two Houses...and I'm Okay A workshop for children of separation or divorce in a workbook! In the privacy of your own home, you can provide your child with a safe way of looking at their thoughts and feelings and help to open discussion of relevant issues for them with you. This workbook can make the difference between your child surviving your divorce and thriving despite it! To learn more about My family has two houses ...and I'm Okay! and to order, click here. How to Win Shared Custody If you are an active, engaged, committed, dedicated, loving parent facing a divorce, family law attorney Nicholas Palermo's The Ten Essential Elements to Winning Joint Shared Physical and Legal Custody can help you protect your relationship with your children. www.TenEssentialElements.com Think of Your Light Switch as an ATM Machine Wouldn't you like to get paid every time you turn on the power?  Find out how you can get paid on thousands of electric bills each month at www.jjsparks.igniteinc.biz

When awarding child support, courts seem to operate on the assumption that noncustodial fathers will only provide support for their children if forced to by the government, and that money is only spent on children by mothers, not fathers. By contrast, research shows that fathers--when allowed to play a meaningful role in their children's lives--are often quite generous with their children.

A study conducted by three Arizona State University researchers found that, adjusting for income and standard of living, divorced fathers with joint custody voluntarily contribute even more to their children's college education than the children's mothers do.

The three researchers wrote:

"The findings were clear. When we took into account divorced mothers' and fathers' financial situations and their ability to pay for college expenses, we found that...mothers and fathers voluntarily contributed remarkably similar proportions of their financial resources to their children's college education. This occurred in a state that has no statute or case law holding parents to a duty to college support...In joint custody families, fathers contributed more than mothers did..."

In other words, even though many fathers did not have equal custody rights to their children (i.e. Joint Custody), they still contributed, adjusted for income, as much to their children's college educations as the children's mothers did. When fathers did have equal custody rights, they contributed more than the mothers did.

These findings belie the popular perception that courts must force fathers to pay child support for their college-aged children, or that high-earning fathers will only be generous to their children if forced to.

To read the study, see "Divorced parents' financial support of their children's college expenses," Fabricius, W.V., Braver, S.L. & Deneau, K. (2003). Family Court Review, 41(2), 224-241. Also, see Glenn Sacks' column New Study Punctures Myth of the Uncaring Divorced Dad (Newsday, 6/23/03).

[Families Against Confiscatory Child Support is the national voice for fair and reasonable child support. To learn more, go to www.faccsonline.org or contact them at contact@faccsonline.org.]

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Help for Los Angeles/Orange County Dads--Because They're Your Kids, Too If you're a dad facing a divorce or separation and you need quality legal representation in Los Angeles or Orange County, the Law Office of David Stone can help. Remember, they're your kids, too. www.help4dad.com Parental-Alienation-Awareness.com Stop Parental Alienation--a terrible form of Child Abuse. Eight states have now officially recognized Parental Alienation Awareness Day. To learn more, go to Parental-Alienation-Awareness.com.

When children of divorce or separation are being abused in a mother's home and the children are taken by the state, they should be placed with their father ASAP, barring a finding of unfitness. One of the problems with the child welfare system is that this is often not the case.

In Choosing Foster Parents over Fathers (San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/11/07), family law attorney Jeff Leving and I discussed research from the Urban Institute which shows that the child welfare system usually denies fit, loving fathers the opportunity to raise their own children.

In the Gary Smith Jr. case discussed below, Smith's ex-wife left their three kids in the care of her boyfriend while deployed overseas. The boyfriend beat one of the boys to death, yet the system still dragged its feet in granting the father custody of the surviving two children. Leving, who represented Smith in the case, told the Chicago Tribune that child-welfare officials should have moved the surviving children quickly to his client, explaining, "It's sad that he had to hire me and go through these maneuvers to safeguard his other children."

The article is below--congratulations to Leving for his good work in reuniting this father and his children. A news video about the case can be seen here. Smith and Leving are pictured above.

Slain boy's father awarded custody of his 2 other kids
Iraq veteran divorces child's mother, whose boyfriend is suspect
By Michael Higgins
Chicago Tribune, September 7, 2007

The father of a 4-year-old Calumet City boy who was beaten to death in May was granted permanent custody of his two other children under a divorce settlement approved Thursday.

Gary Smith Jr. was serving in the Army in Iraq when he learned that his son Cameron had been killed.

Unbeknownst to him, Smith said, his then-wife, Lavada Smith, had placed the couple's children in the care of her boyfriend, who was later charged with the 4-year-old's murder.

On Thursday, Cook County Circuit Judge Karen Shields approved the settlement, which allows Smith to take Cameron's siblings, ages 7 and 8, to live with him in Georgia.

"I wanted my kids to be safe," Smith said after the hearing. "I want them to be able to go to school without thinking about bad things that happened here."

To read more and to discuss this issue on my blog, click here.
 

How Does Sex Discrimination Affect Men and Boys? The National Coalition of Free Men Los Angeles is a non-profit educational & civil rights organization that looks at the ways sex discrimination affects men and boys. NCFM-LA helps provide men a unified voice on important political and social issues. www.NCFMLA.org

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