In 2003, Fathers and Families publicized a story of a San Diego-based US Navy Seal who was quickly deployed after the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.  While overseas fighting for his country, the military father had his minor child relocated from California to the Middle East by the mother against his will and without his consent.  He opened up to Glenn Sacks and painfully admitted, “Sometimes I wonder what I risked my life [in Afghanistan] for. I went to fight for freedom but what freedom and what rights mean anything if a man doesn’t have the right to be a father to his own child?”  To read the full story of this brave military father, click here.

Like this Navy Seal, many military servicemembers are not able to have a voice in the courtroom as they fight thousands of miles away for their country.  In the past, the primary residential parent of the parties’ child could relocate to another state or country and change the child’s residency without the consent of the other parent.  They could enter a courtroom and file for divorce immediately after the deployment of the soldier; making him not part of the decision process and dictating a visitation schedule upon his return.  Father/child bonds were lost due to extreme absence and lack of contact; letters to children never delivered and phone calls from overseas never answered.  In an effort to make the family law system more balanced for both parties, supporters and advocates of equal rights have joined their voices together and we now have begun to see the fruits of their labor.

According to Florida’s recent legislation concerning temporary and concurrent custody of a child, effective July 1, 2010, military fathers can rest easier knowing that the bill states:

• Parents assigned to military service on orders may designate a person to exercise time-sharing on that parent’s behalf.
• Parents assigned to military service may petition for expedited hearings.
• Requires non-military parent to cooperate to resolve issues and share information regarding the child.
• Protects military parents that object to custody modifications and allows them to state their objection formally, prior to any final order being awarded.
• States that any order granting concurrent custody does not affect ability of the other parent to obtain physical custody of child at any time.

To read the general bill and/or receive additional information, please visit MyFloridaHouse.gov.

To see the original article posted by Fathers and Families, please click here.

Military separations and divorces must be handled by competent attorneys that are equipped to handle the complex, time-sensitive and unique issues that arise in servicemen’s domestic dissolutions. As such, it is vital that you select a law firm with military-related family law experience to represent your best interest.  

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm proudly represents Husbands and Fathers that are both active-duty and retired military. 

Fathers, Families, Fairness.

In the past, Fathers were considered to be the primary breadwinners; the parent who was often absent due to work and not involved in the everyday details of their children’s lives.  “The Evolution of Dad” film reflects on this past idea of, “society perpetuating that the distant, productive, bring home the bacon father is the only way to really love your children.”  Nowadays, children also turn to Fathers to bandage their scrapes, cook their meals, read them bedtime stories and offer hugs and kisses when they’re feeling down.

Dana H. Glaster is a stay-at-home dad who cares for his two sons while his wife, Deborah, goes to work each day.  While going against the expectations of society and what a father should be, Dana expresses to the New York Times that he “felt like a failure, and I felt alone, and yes, I’ll admit it, I often felt like less than a man.”   Dana grabbed hold of the opportunity to enlighten and make the world aware of the changing roles of fathers in his documentary, “The Evolution of Dad.” 

In “The Evolution of Dad,” Glaster outlines a cornucopia of different situations wherein the father/child relationship challenges older stereotypes and shares why being a father in today’s world is so wonderfully unique. 

The Evolution of Dad – Official Movie Trailer:

To purchase your copy of “The Evolution of Dad,” please visit the official site by clicking here.

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm is proud to represent Husbands and Fathers in their fight for fairness and equality concerning their parental rights. 

Fathers, Families, Fairness.

A local father, William Fain, explained how every study shows children are better off with two fit parents.  He then responded to critics who asked how it is better for the child to be shuffling back and forth between homes by saying that the court should have intervened when his family moved frequently because one of his parents was in the military.  “I went to seven schools in twelve years, and the state never said that’s bad for your child,” Fain shared.

No other state in the country has passed legislation like this, so it is uncertain how the vote will turn out next week in Tennessee.  The Men’s Divorce Law Firm is pleased to see others taking action against the inequality fathers face in the courtroom.  Whether or not the bill passes, we hope it will open more people’s eyes to the Men’s Divorce Law Firm’s mission of promoting fathers, families, and fairness.

Click here to read News Channel 5’s coverage of the bill.

www.MensDivorceLaw.com

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm appreciates that other states are calling for equal treatment for parents in regards to child custody.  We hope that this will help parents communicate more effectively after a divorce and consider each other’s visitation rights more carefully. 

To follow the bill’s progress, visit the Illinois General Assembly Bill Status online.

www.MensDivorceLaw.com

Benjamin F. Kramer, another delegate, is co-sponsoring the bill.  Simmons and Kramer introduced the bill last month and are currently waiting for approval.  Simmons feels that the new legislation will make a big difference because he understands that Maryland is making it currently making it difficult for couples to get a divorce, a sentiment felt by many couples who have been through the process.  Simmons hopes that this will alleviate the issue of couples not getting a divorce simply because they have no money.  “It’s preposterous,” he stated in a recent article from Gazette Net, “I hope to introduce a little more sanity in Maryland divorce laws.”

Click here to read the Gazette Net article, “Simmons proposes changes in divorce law.”

www.MensDivorceLaw.com

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm supports fathers who are filing for child custody.  We constantly maintain our mission for fathers, families, and fairness.  Contact us today to see how we can help you.

Click here to read the Washington Post’s article, “U.S. presses Japan over parental child abductions.”

www.MensDivorceLaw.com

Even if the couple chooses to keep their house while going through a divorce, more complications could occur down the road.  One spouse could stay in the house and take responsibility for the mortgage, but if they miss a payment, the other spouse could still be held liable.  The departing spouse would have to assume this responsibility despite having no claim to the equity in the house.

In response to this difficult situation, three options are offered to couples sharing a house:

First, the divorcing couple could wait the market out and assume joint custody of the house.  If a spouse moved out, he or she could rent another house, but would find it hard to buy any property with an outstanding mortgage on the house the couple shares.  Upon selling the house, both partners would get half of the proceeds.

A second option for divorcing couples would be to both move out and rent out the current house.  The couple is likely to save money on this arrangement rather than paying a mortgage, but it does force the couple to stay in a transition phase for a long time because of the outstanding financial relationship with each other.

The final option is to accept the financial loss and sell the house immediately.  This option hurts each person’s credit score, but it allows the couple to separate from each other financially.  Couples going through divorce while sharing a house are encouraged to explore their options fully to decide what arrangement works best for them.

At the Men’s Divorce Law Firm, we have built strong business relationships with realtors, appraisers, financial advisors, and credit analysts to help guide our clients appropriately through their divorce during these tough times. We understand that continuing to keep yourself in a hostile environment due to finances can be detrimental to the healing process of a divorce. Contact us today to get more information about going through with a divorce during a recession.

Click here to read SmartMoney’s article, “A Recession Divorce: No one wants the house”

www.MensDivorceLaw.com

To buy the book from Amazon, click here.

Although lawyers for the Brazilian family did not respond to multiple requests for comment, the press in Brazil reported that family representatives said the child, Sean, would be turned over to his father, David Goldman, and that the family would seek no further legal remedies. Mr. Smith, a New Jersey Republican who has helped Mr. Goldman with his case, said lawyers from both sides agreed on a plan that would have the family deliver Sean to his father at the American Consulate in Rio at 9 a.m. (6 a.m. Eastern time).

Mr. Goldman lives in Tinton Falls, N.J. The legal battle, waged in American and Brazilian courts, began when Sean’s mother, a Brazilian, traveled with him from the United States to Brazil in 2004. She then asked for a divorce from Mr. Goldman and declared her intention to keep their son. She died last year. Brazil’s chief Supreme Court justice ordered Tuesday that the boy be returned to his father.

Mery Galanternick contributed reporting from Rio de Janeiro.

Article courtsey of the New York Times

Article By | KIRK SEMPLE

Published | December 23, 2009

Tonight, December 18, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, people from around the world will light a candle in honor of those children that are unable to be with your parents during the holidays. At the Men’s Divorce Law Firm, we are ecstatic to hear of different organizations continuing to raise the awareness that both parents should be included in the lives of children.

Click here to read more information about this World wide event.

Information provided by: Lighting Candles World Wide