Why you should care!

GET INFORMED! GET INVOLVED! STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN AND DEMAND REFORM!

SUPPORT SHARED PARENTING, ABOLISH STANDARD VISITATION!

$70 billion of your federal tax money is allocated for the collection of child support and distributed to the individual states. Just think of how many banks you could bail out with that money! The state of Alabama receives approx. $64 million per year. This is designed to help single mothers, like Misty, whom struggles to raise her 6 year old son while working two jobs. The problem is that after six years of not receiving a dime of child support, Misty has been told by the state of Alabama that it would be too expensive to find the father and that there is nothing more that can be done for her.

The state receives money proportional to the amount of child support collected; for every two dollars collected, one dollar in federal money is received. The state is also penalized for back child support owed by way of withholding incentives. This is all courtesy of the Social Security Welfare Reform Act. In order for the state to receive more money it must collect more child support while reducing the amount of back child support owed. You can see transcripts of my testimony before the Committee at www.alacourt.gov/ChildSupportReview.aspx . Click on the 5/16/08 transcripts and go to page 63. I expressed my concerns for women like Misty who will have their child support reduced. The Committee stated that these people get little money as it is and that the reduction; therefore, would not matter.
This is why child support for the middle class is being increased 33% and decreased for the poor. Most middle class fathers are already paying between 25%-50% for child support, daycare and medical expenses. This is in addition to the money they spend on the child during their assigned parenting time. How are these fathers going to afford to pay for their children's college? How are they going to afford to live in these tough economic times?
Why is it that middle class fathers should pay 50% of their salary to child support while other income brackets pay only 10% ?
In addition, middle class couples pay for attorneys and court fees during the divorce proceedings. The state can therefore, collect this child support at a reduced cost while still reporting it to the federal government and collect their incentives. You might be asking, what is done with all of this money then? That is a great question. Some of it is spent for conventions in Orange Beach www.alacsa.org/2008AnnualConference.htm . Here, one of the seminars is titled "Bankruptcy and Contempt Cases, Out Maneuvering the Enemy" . That's right! You are now the enemy of the state, if you are having problems paying 50% of your pay to child support and have declared bankruptcy. After all, those who choose to declare bankruptcy must enjoy not being able to purchase a car, house, etc. They must enjoy not being able to get certain jobs because of their bad credit. Most of all, these people must enjoy having all their assets liquidated and sold off. I will bet that their children enjoy this as well!
Then there is the Alabama Children's Trust Fund and the Fatherhood Initiative which receive several million dollars per year. The Fatherhood Initiative receives additional money from the Social Security Welfare Reform Act designated to enforceing father's visitation rights and to help fathers with employment so that they can financially support their children. Yet, after a year of inquiry from myself and several other family rights organizations, no help has been provided to our members nor have we ever received a straight answer regarding what they actually do, and who they have ever helped.
Our governement is hurting the people it is supposed to protect. Most of all it is hurting the innocent children. The solution is equal parenting after a divorce. The children should not be limited to seeing one parent only four days per month. In cases where equal parenting cannot be excercised, the child support should be a percentage of the payors income, period. Therapeutic mediation should be mandatory prior to a divorce, mainly to protect the children.

Middle Class Child Support for Alabamians To Increase 33% And Decrease For The Rich

ACT NOW BY JOINING THE ALABAMA FAMILY RIGHTS ASSOCIATION AND LETTING YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. $4.2 BILLION OF YOUR ANNUAL TAX DOLLARS GOES TO FUEL AN UNJUST SYSTEM:

www.alfra.org

e-mail alfra-tusc@hotmail.com

Tuscaloosa Chapter: 205-765-0500

The State of Alabama Advisory Committe On Child Support Guidelines And Enforcement met in Montgomery on September 21, 2007. The purpose of the meeting was to justify a 33% increase in child support for the middle class while decreasing child support obligations for the rich and impoversished. The committe is comprised of Associate Supreme Court Justices, Circuit Court Clerks, Department of Human Resources, Child Support Enforcement Division and economic advisors. The full transcript of the meeting can be downloaded at: http://www.protectfathersrights.org/downloads.php

The new guidelines have already been distributed to family law attorneys across the state

We expect the Advisory Committee to vote and submit their recommendation to the Supreme Court for approval this Spring. Act now so that we can stop this injustice!

There is no question that non-custodial parent should provide financially support their children. The problem occurs when greed and manipulation enters the system and destroys families. The Advisory committee stated that "the (child support calculation) schedule is devised to ensure that the non-custodial parent's income will never be below poverty".

Child support consists of payments derived from the child support schedule, child care, medical and education. The committe has failed to look at these components as a whole. Although the support schedule will not place a parent below poverty, the combined components will and already do. The average Alabama male earns $2,000 per month in net income. Child support based only on the support schedule for two children is approx. $600/mo assuming the mother's monthly gross is $1400/mo. Under the new guidelines, support payments would increase $200 for a total of $800. Now lets add in child care so that the mother can work, which is an additional $400 in accordance with current law. The total is now $1200/mo for this father, not including medical, education or alimony to the ex-spouse. Leaving this individual $800/mo to live on is completely unjust. Consider $400 for rent/mortgage, no leaving him only $400 to pay bills and live on. How is this father going to provide food, clothing, and entertainment for his children during his parenting time??? Heaven forbid this father attended college with the hopes of providing more for his children. How would he pay of the student loan debt. Many jobs in the post 9/11 era require a security status which cannot be obtained with poor credit. The parent in this example has been ruined. Unable to better himself for the sake of his children. The children lose the oportunity for a higher education and a higher quality of life

www.supportthemovie.com

This is going to have a drastic effect on the economy as a whole. The next economic crisis is going to be related to the inability for individuals to pay their high credit debt. Loss of equity from the housing crash, increased inflation, the looming recession, and rising energy costs are cripling the middle class. So why would Alabama and other states consider raising child support at this point in time; Two words, FEDERAL FUNDING.

States are losing lots of money from property tax attributed to property devalue and sales tax causeed by consumer conservatism. Federal money is provided to the states for the collection and enforcement of child support to the tune of $4.2 billion annually. States receive federal money proportional to the amount of child support collected. Increase child support and you increase state funding. This is courtesy of the Social Security Welfare Reform Act Title IV-D. Go to Lary Holland's website below for a thorough explanation of Title IV-D.

http://www.laryholland.com/ssacse/

I also recommend obtaining a copy of Dr. Stephen Baskerville's book "Taken Into Custody"

http://www.protectfathersrights.org/shop.php

Most people do not understand that even with joint custody, the non-custodial parent is only allowed standard visitation (72hrs/mo) unless the custodial parent agrees to more. Withholding a child from a loving fit parent is CHILD ABUSE. The current system allows children of divorce to be used as pawns. 80% of the population supports 50/50 equal parenting. The presidential candidates support equal parenting. See Mike Huckabee interview www.crispe.org and Ron Paul at http://onsecondthought.tv/videos.htm . So why are fit parents being excluded from their children's lives? Simple; yep you guessed it, MONEY!

Alabama Judicial Rule 32 governs child support in the state of Alabama.

http://www.fa-ir.org/alabama/cs/Rule32.htm

This rule states that deviations from the guidelines are permitted for:

"a) Shared physical custody or visitation rights providing for periods of physical custody or care of children by the obligor parent substantially in excess of those customarily approved or ordered by the court;"

Anotherwords, the more time the non-custodial parent spends with the child the less money he or she is obligated to pay. Makes sense, since this parent would be relieving the custodial parent of costs such as food, clothing, etc. In fact; 50/50 equal parenting would eliminate the need for child support as both parents would be providing equally for the child. But wait... how would the states get their federal money? They wouldn't. That is why many courts are reluctant to order a visitation schedule to the non-custodial parent in excess of the standard every other weekend.

Standard visitation is even awarded in joint custody situations. Joint custody does not mean joint physical custody. An interesting point which is often overlooked, is that Rule 32 was not intended for joint legal custody situations in the first place. Down on the bottom, you will find a comment section from the Supreme Court stating:

"The Alabama child support guidelines do not specifically address the problem of establishing a support order in joint legal custody situations."

This is because the guidelines where based on a scenerio in which the non-custodial parent has essentially abondanded the child. It was not designed for parents who are actively engaged in their child's life.

Time for UNITY!!!!!!

PFR was in attendance at the 2008 National Fatherhood Summit in Grand Rapids MI. The theme can be summarized by the words of Rev. Ron Smith: "We are organized!"

Capitalizing on this energy, the decision was made to use CRISPE.org as the vehicle of unity for all of the family rights organizations. This will allow us to streamline efforts and exchange information and resources. It truly is an exciting time.

GET ACTIVE AND GET INVOLVED!!! Enough blogging for today, I have to go and educate people on the issues which are tearing families apart and emotionally damaging our children! You should do the same.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!!

Unfortunately, we are way behind on our current strategy. We need your support and participation for our 2008 strategic initiative. Please contact us via our website http://www.protectfathersrights.org/ . This is an opportune time to act as we enter a political year.

We had sent a letter to the governor of Alabama requesting information on how federal money provided to the state was being used, as provided by the Social Security Welfare Reform Act Title IV-D, for the enforcement of visitation rights for the non-custodial parent. We received confirmation from the Administration of Children and Families that the state was receiving the money. The governor's office directed us to the Children's Trust Fund, and the Fatherhood Initiative. After two weeks of phone calls, no one has yet to return a single phone call. Currently we have found no evidence that the Fatherhood Initiative is helping the fathers of Alabama. There is also no evidence that your tax dollars are properly be used in accordance with this act. Meanwhile, families are being torn apart in family courts. The losers being the children and both parents. The winners being the lawyers, state and local government. Something must be done to stop this injustice. After all, this is still America. We as Americans must stand together for families. Join us now!!!!

UPDATES!!

We have successfully incorporated our organization under the name Protect Fathers Rights LLC. Non-profit 501(3)c tax-exempt status is currently being pursued. Please check out our new PFR store http://www.protectfathersrights.org/shop.php. Featured books are hand picked and verified as a good resource for helping families. Soon we will be offering T-shirts and other items that display the PFR badge.

Programs that will offer our members discounted legal and counseling services are in the final stages of completion. Soon we will be sending proposals to attorneys and counselors across the state of Alabama. Plans are to expand this service nationwide in the very near future.

We need your support NOW! Please join our movement by signing up as a member on our website. Currently, membership is free! We are also in desperate need of financial support. You can donate to the cause via PayPal on our website. Even a few dollars will help tremendously. Our goal is to change the family law system and to provide people with services to help survive the dire straights resulting from the family law system. We cannot do this without your continued support.

Thank you for stopping by! Get involved! Get active! Change the system for the sake of our children!!!

DC RALLY EXCITEMENT!!!!

The excitement continues! Please join us in Washington, D.C. on August 18th. Please support our friends and organizers of this rally by visiting the following websites:

http://www.achildsright.net/

http://www.cnbpinc.org/

http://www.dcrally2007.com/

You can also support our movement by donating on our website http://www.protectfathersrights.org/.
Money will be used for public awareness materials.

Get active!!! Get involved!!! Lets make this country a better place for our children!!!!

Member's Story

My name is Jane and I write in regards to my fiance's situation. Dave has been separated and divorced since 2001. I did not meet Dave until 2004. In the past 7 years there have been on going court battles with Dave always on the defensive end. His ex-wife is constantly coming up with false allegations that are always thrown out in court (once they get there). Dave was granted Joint custody where he exercised his rights every other weekend, certain holidays, and 2 weeks of vacation a year. After every visitation there was always some absurd allegation whether through a phone call, letter, or attorneys. Dave and I most recently moved out of state to distance ourself from this woman. As a result, she went into an all out campaign to destroy Dave. She made false allegations to CYS with horrible allegations of things he did to his daughter. The report of abuse was unfounded. As a result Dave had to give up his visitation for the summer and time being as he lives in fear as to what her motives are and what she brainwashes the children with. He did not give up his legal custody rights of the children. Her main goal is to destroy him as he is a teacher and she attempts to contact his place of work. Dave has been attempting to call his children and his ex-wife changed the telephone number twice and then finally made it private unlisted, she also contacted all the children's doctors and stated that Dave is dangerous and a threat and no information is able to be given to him. Dave has not been able to contact his children in over 4 months. Our attorney has set up a motion to obtain her phone number and Dave's rights to the children's school and medical records. But we feel frustrated