Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

By Julie Garrison

Special to DadsDivorce.com

Note: A previous divorce article discussed How Feminism Has Affected the Divorce and Child Custody Process.

It wasn't only the women's movement that has changed the way that child custody is granted. The men's rights movement took off after fathers got tired of being relegated to the role of part-time dad and cash cow.

They joined forces and brought about positive change for men's rights. No longer did the ex-wife have all the power. Men empowered themselves and began insisting on equity in divorce and child custody matters.

Though this was a step in the right direction, the feminists fought back, which brings us to where we are today – polarized. The feminists' attempt to masculinize women and feminize men has brought about the disaster that is modern society.

Opponents of Dads Rights

It's remarkable to hear dads rights opponents dismiss the movement as a propaganda machine simply manipulating the facts in an effort to disenfranchise mothers.

The oft-stated mantra on DadsDivorce.com is the fathers rights movement is not an anti-mom movement or anti-woman movement. It's an anti-unfairness movement. Dads simply want family courts to treat them with the same respect and rights given to mothers.

How biased is the family law system against men's rights?

Let’s take a look at the numbers - the indisputable facts proving how much dads rights are discriminated against.

By Julie Garrison

Special to DadsDivorce.com

As discussed in yesterday's divorce article "Collaborative Divorce vs. Contested Divorce," in a collaborative divorce, the parties are encouraged to communicate what is important about an issue, instead of arguing about a specific position or remedy.

With this type of mutual exchange, the parties are cooperating with each other instead of insisting on a position and not taking into account where an estranged spouse is coming from.

This new method of alternative resolution is based on a different way of bargaining than the negotiating type that has always been used in family law cases.

Question:

My wife moved out of the marital home into an apartment with our older children, but left the younger kids with me. She has since lost her job and cannot afford her apartment so she wants to move back into the house.

Do I have to let her move back in? Can just the kids move back in but not her?

What states have the best child support models? How about the ones with the most father-friendly parenting plans?

To get the answers to those questions, DadsDivorce.com editor Matt Allen interviewed Mike Doherty, the chairman of the Children's Rights Council of Illinois, about family law reform and related family court concerns.

The Children’s Rights Council of Illinois is a charitable organization that works to inform and educate the public and family courts on dealing with children of separated and divorced parents.

Listen to the podcast for Doherty's opinions on father-friendly states.