Child custody and shared parenting time is arguably one of the most decisive factors in divorce, money being another.

Financial issues have prenuptial agreements, but what do family issues have?

Currently, not much. If anything, its like the “wild, wild west” where almost anything goes.

There are some legislative trends, like this one:

Maryland House Bill 1132 - Equal Parenting Time

The bill is sponsored by delegates Carter, Alston, Cluster, Conaway, Dwyer, Hough, Howard, K. Kelly, Kramer, McComas, McDermott, Niemann, Oaks, Simmons, Smigiel, Summers, Washington, and Wilson.

If you support this cause, please contact your legislators!

I am currently working on a new web application for divorced dads.

I hope to release the first version over the next few months, as I think it already has some really terrific functionality, including:

• Keeping track of child support payments
• Recording visitation schedules
• Recording visitation memories

With more social networking components, too. Support can be a very helpful resource for divorced dads facing a difficult child custody battle.

The one remaining feature I plan to implement prior to launch is a dashboard where users can keep track of everything in one place. The implementation won’t be too difficult, but finding the time just might be!

UPDATE: The site is now partially available:

• FathersWork.com

Its good to see this article about Parental Alienation on ABC so that the more people are aware about a serious problem plaguing our divorce-ridden society.

In my opinion, parental alienation, and hostile aggressive parenting, is the result of one parent trying to use their child or children as a weapon to hurt or punish the other parent, and also in my opinion, should be considered child abuse.

The ABC News article focuses on just the first step - trying to get the American Psychiatric Association to recognize parental alienation syndrome as a mental disorder in children whose parent or parents have allegedly “brain-washed” their child or children to dislike the other parent.

A professor quoted in the article, Joan Meier, says “This is a fabricated notion – there’s no science to support it.” Sounds like a common argument I’ve heard about psychology in general. Personally, I’m not buying it!

More information on Parental Alienation:

• What is Parental Alienation?
• Symposium on Parental Alienation Syndrome

Here is a link to the article on ABCnews.go.com:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=11776668

I just submitted this to Match.com:

It is so stupid that Match Mobile continually lists as new activity in the “activity feed”. Stop abusing your pole position.

This driver has the right idea!! His license plate reads “ME D 8” = mediate. :-)

Based on my own experience and the testimonies of many other divorces I have spoken with, mediation might be the right way to go if it is at all possible.

I’ve been doing some more research into Father’s Rights groups in the United States. There are many quasi-groups that don’t appear to have any real traction in the Father’s Rights (and Parental Rights) civil rights movement beyond their website, so I’ll list the ones I’ve found that look established:

• American Coalition for Father’s and Children
• National Father’s Resource Center
• Children’s Rights Initiative for Sharing Parents Equally
• Fatherhood Coalition
• Fathers and Familes
• Parental Rights

Parental Alienation Awareness Day is coming up April 25th. This is a very real problem and I’m pleased to see these efforts to raise awareness about it.

Parental Alienation Awareness Day

This problem can be stopped if enough people join the cause to end it!

The Baltimore Sun featured an article today reviewing proposed legislation to increase child support payments.

As a “non-custodial”, child support paying parent, I have personal experience with this subject. I think the laws are flawed because they are calculated primarily by overnights, whereas the actual cost burden is levied upon the parent who provides daycare because they can’t work during those hours.

But that’s not why I’m writing this post. I’m writing this post to ask readers whether or not they think it is a conflict of interest for a divorce lawyer to serve on the committee which sets these types of regulations.

More specifically, Delegate Kathleen M. Dumais is quoted in the article:

Del. Kathleen M. Dumais, a Montgomery County Democrat on the committee, said she believes the panel might propose some amendments affecting the wealthiest families but will largely leave the new guidelines intact.

“It’s a question of fairness to the kids,” she said.

Do you think it makes sense for someone who is in a position to benefit from proposed legislation to serve as a politician on the decision making committee? Do you think that as a practicing divorce lawyer, Kathleen Dumais, could benefit from this law? Do you think that practice is ethical? I’d like to know.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/legislature/bal-md.childsupport22mar22,0,2824239.story

Its taken me several months to find the time and energy, but thanks to a good friend I was able to pick up the rest of my belongings from my ex-wife’s house. The property settlement we signed in December was filed in January and it gave me ninety days to pick up my belongings.