Is There a War Against Fathers in America?

After three years of marriage, my wife divorced me. Privately she told me she was unhappy and I did not make her happy. Publicly she called me abusive. Blessed with an son.

Without due process, but as a matter of routine, after a fifteen minute discussion before a family judge, I was awarded four days every month to parent our son; ordered to pay $2,600 monthly in support; $200,000 of my savings frozen; and, an order of protection entered against me for my wife.

After three years, one hundred court calls, $150,000 in legal fees, and three jobs, I lost a successful career; involved in a dozen incidents calling for police; imprisoned; filed for personal bankruptcy; car repossessed; and evicted from my apartment, but won joint custody to which 17% of fathers win. In February 2005, however, my wife in retaliation had my visitation suspended, and the County Circuit Clerk refused to accept $19,000 in proof of payments as credit for court ordered support paid.

I regret saying I do.

I guess that I am blessed by living in Texas. I do not see the situations that you refer to in my area. I most often see men who do not know how to be husbands or fathers and when they are faced with divorce choose to leave their children. Although, the courts have given them visitation they choose not to exercise that right and do not see the child(ren). I have never seen a case where the custodial parent had the option of denying visitation for whatever reason. In fact you are held in contempt of court if you withold visitation for any reason (i.e. child support arrears, etc.).

my heartfelt and sincerest apologies to the honorable God fearing fathers who read these posts. My comment was in actuality a praise for the fathers who are responsible, loving providers who long for relationship with their children.
As I stated below - it is because of those men who do not live up to their responsibilities, who turn their backs on their children and wives (mother of their children) that the courts of this world are unfairly penalizing you.
Because of the word limit, I was not able to fully expound on this. I should have posted a continuance,especially knowing that the men I have dealt with (in my business) are not ones who would frequent this site, nor read these articles. My apologies again.
My prayers go out for you fathers who are walking in our Heavenly Fathers truths and are being persecuted by the very authorities who should be helping you.

This article is right on the money, no pun intended! lptaxinc is either female, or never had the bad fortune to have to deal with femaly court. As I type, I am having to "deal" with an Assembly of God church (hers) who scheduled a "puppet ministry doings" over the fathers day weekend. She says "he really wants to be there for this" I say the courts give me that day! Well guess who will win in order for me not to be the "bad guy"? If money were the primary factor in any child support case I am with Texas, give residental custody to the person making the most money! It would eliminate slime DNA donors who only want to leave because of selfishness, and slime priveledged princesses who take the kids away for the EXACT same reason, because they can! Plus no added burden to the state for enforcment, medical, food stamps, etc. lptaxinc, just doesn't get it, I AM a terrific dad (when I get a chance) and have never nor ever shall miss a single support payment, even when I was unemployed!

18 years ago, I was a 'victim' of this: My wife had decided she wanted to "experience more of life". (She didn't want her sexuality limited to me.) She asked me to move to an apartment across the street for a month to let her sort it out. Within a week, I was summoned to family court for child support.

The order was: "Joint custody, residence w/ the mother, visitation as agreed to by the mother." If I add together all the time I have spent w/ my daughter over the next 18 years, it equals less than three months! She had the power to deny visitation for any reason, & she did!

I've paid 19% of my 'disposable' income to my ex-wife ever since. This hasn't even been late for the last 14 years. I was unemployed for 7 months back then. It was less than 8 weeks before I had a money judgment entered for the arrears. This affected my credit for 10 years!

I lost my war! (yet my daughter was the real loser: On drugs, pregnant, & a HS dropout at 16...) Great system!
Thanks for telling the truth!

I am living the nightmare of Massachusetts no fault divorce!
Dr. Baskerville is right on. It is a big money game and our children become the game pieces. It is far from God's plan.

There is certainly no arguement that good fathers are being unfairly penalized because of the 'dead-beat' fathers who run rampant in this country. This article however is giving a skewed look at the reality of fatherless families.

Being in the income tax preparation business for over 15 years has given me a surprising insight into both fathers and mothers views of financial, moral and physical responsibilities that each sex feels for their children.

Overwhelmingly I see men who on the one hand bemoan that they have to 'pay' child support, yet on the other they gloat in the freedom they ultimately have in persuing their careers, returning to the joys of being a bachelor and being able to date unincumbered of children and the neccesary 'time' it takes from their lives to raise them.

Woman may complain that they need to work twice as hard to just satisfy the childrens basic needs (outside and in). Yet most woman feel the joy of raising their children makes up for this.

I agreed with author that our goverment (Children service) and society as whole is what keep father away our children. Look at what happen in the Texes on the news tody.