Proposal gives divorced dads reason for hope

It's about damn time. It should at least start out 50/50 and then be adjusted from there. Why for the last 100 years has the child always been paired with the mother upun a split? You got my vote!

There is no reason that by upon divorce alone that EITHER parent should be "demoted" to a part time status!!!!!(Notwithstanding any mitigating circumstances.)

Of course I believe that there will need to be some tweeking done, but this is certainly a step in the right direction for Father's rights AND giving Father's their "power" to parent back!!!!!

Loving support from a co-parenting mother!

Hear, hear! Thanks to Griffin for fighting for what's right! Unfortunately, I didn't have the resources to fight for my rights either. Even when the mother is a dead-beat, I couldn't get more time with my kids. It still takes two to make them and will take two to raise them! The courts are still all about money!

This is not the first bill of its kind. Many have gone before but have been shot down with the childs best interest as an excuse. They just dont want to give up the Title 4 money from the Federal Government. Since when is it in the best intrest of the child to kept from their fathers for cash. Open your eyes people. Call all your local reps. until they push it through. Why do you think the bill has been sitting without any public discussion since February. It will never go through unless people start screaming and re-election is on the line. Only strong public outcry will change.

Yes, there needs to be a presumption of equal custody. If either parent claims the other is unfit, there should be a trial by jury in criminal court, under charges of abuse or neglect. The rules for evidence are different in criminal court than in civil court. The jury must be half men and half women. If found not guilty, equal custody. If found guilty, THEN the judge gets to decide how to handle it. Parents and their children have this right. But there's no way the family law section of the state bar's will "pass" such a bill out of committee, because if it became law litigation in family court would fall through the floor. That is the honest truth. It's all about the money, and there's a conflict of interest there.

You know, I think I can understand the reasoning behind the joint custody issue. I do believe we will have to wait for a while to see what affect an arrangement like this has on the child. It may sound like a good idea, and I'm sure in some situations it will work beautifully, but in others, it will definitely cause more heartache. Our concern should be for the child and his or her best interests. If the parents are not mature adults (or fail to behave that way) then I think the child will become more of a pawn or there will be a competition between the parents. If the adults can agree on discipline and other critical issues, then it would not be harmful to the child, I guess. Try seriously to place yourself in the position of the child and ask yourself if that type of lifestyle would work for you.

I don't know about the victory thing either. I know three men that have sucessfully raised their families without the mother and these kids all grew up fine. There are situations where the male is the better parent and should be awarded custody. However, I've witnessed visitations with parents/children where the kids don't wish to go and are crying and screaming. And that be with their mothers. So, if something like this is going to work, it is going to take more than a judge and a gavel to insure a workable situation with the child's best interest at heart!!