Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

Question:

My divorce question is about unwed fathers rights and child custody laws.

My girlfriend took our child to another state and said she has no intentions of ever returning.

What are my rights as an unwed biological father to force my daughter be returned home?

By Jennifer de Lyon Stralka

Mens Divorce Attorney, Cordell and Cordell

To track or not to track? That is the question.

As divorce rates continue to skyrocket across the country, so has the use of electronic evidence in proving a spouse's infidelity.   

Such evidence gleaned from e-mails, cell phones, Facebook, and Twitter have proved both compelling and devastating in divorce cases.  

Most recently, additional forms of evidence have come to the forefront, including information on a partner's whereabouts obtained from global positioning system ("GPS") tracking devices, including Apple’s new iPhone 4S "Find My Friends" app.

While it is certainly no secret that electronic and other technologically advanced media such as GPS tracking devices are becoming an increasingly popular tool in ascertaining a suspected criminal’s whereabouts, the question remains as to its admissibility in family law proceedings.

By Matt Allen

Editor, DadsDivorce.com

U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh is embroiled in a child support dispute in part because he made one of the biggest mistakes divorced dads can make: he relied on a verbal agreement to modify his child support orders.

Walsh’s ex-wife claims he owes $117,000 in child support and interest. The U.S. congressman from Illinois said he and his ex reached a verbal agreement on child support that they never formalized because they "were both tired of court appearances and the resulting emotional and financial impact on the family," according to court documents.

His argument may be a tough sell to the judge because even if you and your ex-wife made an agreement on the side to lower the child support amount, the court may not recognize the agreement.

By Jennifer M. Paine

Divorce Lawyer, Cordell & Cordell

Substance use and substance abuse are two different things, particularly in divorce cases.

Of course, no illegal use is a good use, but there is quite a difference between a single use in a moment of bad judgment and a chronic daily use.

The former is likely to result in a reprimand from your judge and an order for counseling and/or parenting classes, and the latter could lead to loss of child custody or parental rights.

But don't rush to conclusions.

By Jennifer M. Paine

Divorce Lawyer, Cordell & Cordell

If you feel like your life is an episode of "Intervention" except your spouse refuses to acknowledge her problem, let alone accept treatment, you are not alone.

Substance abuse in divorce remains a problem dealt with mainly in the home or, more often, not at all.

Anecdotally, this is a trend the divorce lawyers for men at Cordell & Cordell see in our offices. While more clients come to us having gone through treatment personally or supported their spouse through treatment, most refuse to discuss the problem or treatment.

Many have gone years keeping their or their spouse's problem hidden from family and friends.

Add to this the confusion of the divorce process, and none are willing to have the problem featured in their divorce – preferring instead to brush it aside and deal with later.

That’s a mistake. Here are divorce tips for men you should use when substance abuse is a part of your divorce and child custody case.