What Family Law Really Does for Families

The area of the law that deals with family related issues and domestic relations has been challenged by two primary activist groups. The Fathers Rights Movement (which also has many female members) criticizes the maternal bias and the "win or lose" nature of child support and custody cases. Advocates of Alimony reform also claim that divorcing couples are pitted against each other, creating a hostile environment and racking up large bills in legal fees including attorneys.

Is it possible for a man and a woman to simply "call it quits" and head in different directions, collaborating peacefully for shared custody and financial support of any children? Not if the government has anything to say about it!

It is inevitable in a broken home, or even an out-of-wedlock birth, for any chance of a peaceful ending to be diminished by the monetization of a seperation.

Family Law creates anger, tension, and hostility in situations where it wouldn't otherwise be present.

Divorce is hard enough, but spousal alimony makes an assumption about the financial responsibilities and obligations of both individuals involved. It's scary to think that engaged couples must ponder signing a prenuptial agreement before ever walking down the aisle, and it's even scarier to think that this fear based option is another profitable product that can be very costly- whether you buy it or trust your heart and don't buy it.

Because of this material perspective that family law puts into a marriage, it's harder than ever to simply fall in love and grow old together. Not that there's anything wrong with being hesitant to make that lifelong commitment, but Family Law has done everything possible to turn the most romantic moment of your life into a death sentence... create a contract where you officially sign away all rights to the rest of your life.

Family Law increases anger, tension, and hostility instead of attempting to resolve differences.

Morally, there are only a few differences where a failed marriage can't end with a friendship... eventually. Legally, you can make your ex partner pay your bills! The more pain and suffering, the bigger the paycheck...

There's no need to explain how this is an immoral concept, but it works. Attorneys, judges, and government agencies are cashing in on the interest and annual fees earned by enforcing payment between one hardworking individual to another... just because their relationship didn't work out.

But worst of all, and there is absolutely no excuse for this one...

Family Law creates a barrier in parent / child relationships.

The most innocent victims of Family Law are being prepared to build future generations of broken homes and unhealthy relationships. The saddest part of Family Law is that they have presented Child Support as if it is a good thing ... and it's worked!

Custodial parents who do receive that extra money absolutely love the concept of child support, and who wouldn't love extra money? (Some parents even use that money to support their children.)

Custodial parents who don't receive that money still love the concept, but they blame the noncustodial parent for not paying. (If only the roles were reversed...)

Children are often too young to have an opinion about child support, but many children know that they won't be allowed to see Dad if he doesn't send the check this week.

Naturally, most non-custodial parents have a problem with being forced to hand over 17% of their gross income, regardless of what that actual payment amount might calculate to be. The answer to non-custodial upset was simple... a campaign on "deadbeat dads" that ridiculed any non-custodial parent who did not meet their (legal) financial obligations as a parent. Again, it worked like a charm... and also allowed a harsher punishment for parents who fell into arrears (child support debt)... including jail time.