Heartbroken Father Speaks Out About Losing Custody

You may recall the devastating story out of Maryland last week when a mother was found pushing her deceased son on a swing in a park. The little boy, who was just three years old, had been at the center of a custody battle between his parents. Ji-Aire’s father is now speaking to the media and his story only adds another layer of tragedy, especially considering it could have been avoided. Ji-Aire’s father, James Lee, was in in court the week before in his continued efforts to gain custody. I m not saying she is an unfit parent, but at this particular time, she wasn t fit to take care of our son, he said to a Fox News affiliate in DC. He had been attempting to gain full custody and says he’s not sure if the judge took him seriously. He said his son was a happy boy. “That’s my little man, he loved having fun just like me. He’ll always be that’s my little man. That last custody hearing was the last time he saw his son. I Have a Stable Home He explained to the judge that he w
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Dads Bonding With Their Children

When it comes to custody issues, mothers and fathers can be adamant in their stances. Whatever the motives for the determination (and as a family law firm, we like to believe those motives are focused on the well-being of the children), there are growing amounts of evidence that support the presence of Dad in a child s life.
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Is a Lack of Fathers the Real Problem?

In recent months, it seems as though there’s been a huge divide in this country. It’s tragic because it’s not indicative of how most Americans truly feel. It is, however, the result of a few who are adamant on making it so. No matter what the issues at hand, there’s always something that seems to keep us divided. Recently, though, it’s what one of the candidates for the Republican presidential ticket said that has stirred some debate. Many are asking if it’s the lack of fathers that is the real problem. As a family law attorney, I see firsthand the trauma and emotional pain pouring forth from families that divide due to divorce. There are times when both parents are loving, unselfish and want to ensure their children are as protected as possible. Those are the cases that remind us just how important family is, even when it’s a divided family. Priorities are straight and we know these kids are going to have two parents who are always on their side. Then there are the case
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Establishing Paternity: Twin Girls, Two Fathers

There’s an interesting case unfolding in New Jersey. It includes twin girls, one mother and now, apparently, two fathers. One of the more interesting factors is the rarity: or maybe not. Some in the medical and scientific fields say it could be more common, but DNA testing is not conducted in most cases. DNA expert Dr. Karl-Hanz Wurzinger that said one in every 13,000 reported paternity cases involving twins have different fathers. Here’s what happened: A mother of 2-year-old twins went to court in order to ensure child support from the father of her children. The Passaic County Board of Social Services, as a matter of routine, ordered a DNA test on the babies in order to establish paternity and child support. Everyone was surprised to learn that the named father is not the father of one twin. Many are asking: how could this happen? After the DNA results were returned, the mother testified that she had sexual intercourse with two men within a five day period. The process in which
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Establishing Paternity in Texas

Many fathers wish to establish paternity for any number of reasons. It doesn’t always mean they suspect the child’s mother of cheating, but in Texas, men who are not legally married to the mother but wish to be recognized as the legal father must have paternity established. A DNA test is one way to accomplish that. Note: fathers can sign a legal document, Acknowledgment of Paternity in Texas that serves the same purpose. For some fathers, especially if the relationship is volatile, they may wish to seek DNA testing to further protect their relationship with their children. When a baby is born to married couples, the legalities of fatherhood are automatic. The husband is called the presumed father and has the same legal rights as the mother. There are a number of reasons unmarried Texas fathers would seek DNA testing. It allows their name to go on the birth certificate, it provides a legal bond that protects the relationship, and it also ensures their rights are protected regarding
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How Do I Adopt a Step-Child?

With nearly half of all marriages ending in divorce in this country, and with the odds of remarriage even higher, many of our kids across the country find themselves with new step-parents and step-siblings. Ideally, blended families adjust and become a solid, functioning and healthy unit. This can include one parent adopting his or her step-child. It’s an important decision and one parents take seriously. After all, by adopting a step-child, you’re showing you have faith in a second or third marriage that has even higher odds of breaking apart than first marriages. Like all things in life, it’s a leap of faith. Adopting a Step-Child Did you know adopting a step-child is the most common adoption process in the U.S? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, close to 7 percent of children are adopted by a step parent, which is essentially twice as many children adopted by both parents. According to statistics, in Texas, more than 5 percent of children are in households with a stepparent
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Is There Real Progress in the Fathers’ Rights Movement?

From a legal perspective, I tend to get a bit tunnel-visioned – and that’s good. It means I’m doing my job as a family law attorney. But it also means I have to pay attention to what’s going unfolding outside the legal ring. That means taking a step back and changing my perspective a bit, especially if I’m going to be objective in my efforts. This past weekend was a perfect opportunity for me to do that. What I found was both troubling and hopeful, depending on the source. Sometimes, a look to the past can provide real perspective on what’s unfolding in our society. Unfortunately, it’s not always a positive realization. In 2001, a freelance writer, Rob Okun, wrote a piece for WENews, a popular site for women. In his column, he wrote, “Mothers of all persuasions deserve a lot of credit for opening up the parenting circle wide enough to let fathers in. After all, raising children has long been seen as a woman s domain, not to be encroached upon by the masculine hand that
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