Family Law - Dad's Rights

Male Voice: The Evans Family Law Group: providing a full spectrum of family law services. James Evans: There is nowhere in the statutes, there's nowhere in the family code, there's nowhere in the courts or court decisions...that dads...this idea of protecting dad's rights. There was a time that I think professionals would acknowledge that the courts had a bias, but it just doesn't exist anymore. In this day and age, where people have flexible jobs and they work for themselves, I have routinely gotten dads who are flexible with their work schedules 50/50 custody situations. Or expanded custody. Modified child support situations. What it's really about is, Are you consistent with your kids? What's the nature of your relationship with them? Are you bonded to them? Are you stable? Do you live close enough? Are you participating in their school? Do their teachers know you? Do their doctors know you? I mean, how connected are you with their lives? That's what the court's looking for. This notion that a dad doesn't have rights or that the courts going to look at, for example, a mom with unmanaged bipolar and it's not being treated over a dad who doesn't have any of those issues and is completely plugged in with their kids. And that that dad doesn't have a fair shot at a primary custody of a four year old is ludicrous. It's about representation, and it's about the particular circumstances of those parents. And ultimately comes down to what's in the best interest of that child. And the courts these days...I litigate a lot, and I can tell you the courts really are gender neutral. The only time that I can honestly say that I see that that's an issue is when you have infants. Infants for example, who are breast feeding. But that quickly fades, I would say, after about 12 months. Once a kiddo transitions to real food and starts to transition to a place where moms can pump and provide milk and freeze milk, you know, dads have the right to be able to see their child, even their infant child. And it's particularly important during that formative phase to have a lot of, not duration of time, but a lot of time. Maybe an hour, and an hour, and an hour to be in front of that kiddo, to hold them, feed them and learn their ticks. And get to know them. Male Voice: When life's path takes an unplanned turn, called the Evans Family Law Group for a consultation at 628-2550.The Evans Family Law Group: providing a full spectrum of family law services.