Lary Holland: Official Blog, Links, and Resources (Entries tagged as child custody)

Low cost divorce tips, legal self-help, and child custody resources added to Get Your Justice Live

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:37:21 -0400

Low-cost divorce tips, legal self-help, and child custody resources have been added on a trial basis on the Get Your Justice Live book-store feature. Most of these are in the form of E-Books that are immediately available and accessible through various third-party authors and sites. I have included a disclaimer regarding the adversarial process and we certainly promote viable alternatives, but understand that there will always be those that need to prepare for the adversarial process when dealing with out-of-control ex-intimate partners. Below is a sample of the resources that are available from http://www.getyourjusticelive.com/book-store.

E-BOOKS FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD!

We do not encourage adversarial divorce by any means, but if you must engage in litigation and the complete divorce process it is important to be well-informed about the process, how it will affect your children, and what it can mean to you financially, whether male or female. Let us know if you find any of the electronic offerings helpful or if you have a resource that you think will assist other parents and we will include it here for others to order.

Men’s Divorce Tactics – Learn how to win your divorce without losing your shorts or your kids. “Most divorce lawyers do not care one iota about you.” The resource also states that “You’ll learn divorce basics, insider tips, and much much more.”

Divorce Secrets – Divorce Secrets, what every woman should know. This resource comes from DivorceDefense.Com, and has a significant focus on the financial aspects of divorce. Helpful information whether male or female as the strategies affect all litigants.

Divorce Strategies and Tactics (1 for Men / 1 for Women) – “Get the divorce settlement you want without spending a fortune.” There are two separate versions that you select at the time of purchase.

How to Win Child Custody -“The definitive strategy guide to winning custody by the Custody Coach.” With reviews from Dean Tong, Dr.Jayne Major, Attorney Kelley Rickert, Dr. Linda Nielsen, Dr. Amy Baker, and others. There are bonus offers through our link to the resource.

Co-Parenting Nightmare – Are you co-parenting with someone who is mentally ill or a substance abuser? Is their crazy behavior driving YOU insane? Let’s face it, when you are going through high-conflict situations, you might need this resource.

Family Law Secrets for Men – Why are Mothers winning custody in Family Court? Why are Fathers “allowed” to see their kids every other weekend and required to pay child support? The “Fathers Rights” movement is failing, and Men are losing custody every day. [Although we do not see this as a gender issue, this resource might assist you in making a determination for yourself.]

Chicken Soup for the Soul – Guide to Effective Parenting – From
The Desk of Parenting Expert, Shelly Lefkoe:If you knew that innocent mistakes could affect your children negatively for the rest of their lives…Would you change your behavior? If you could discover exactly what would help them to turn out just the way you want…Would you listen?

How Do I Tell The Kids About the Divorce (A Create-A-Storybook Guide) -When it comes to divorce or separation,there’s never a “best” time to tell your children. But there is a “best” way!

Custody Keeper (Child Custody and Divorce Calendar) – TomaWeb’s Custody Keeper® is a simple yet very useful custody scheduling software to help plan the time sharing of children between 2 or more guardians. Custody Keeper also lets you keep a daily diary of comments as well as track all of the expenses incured. The easy calendar interface is simple to use and will help you plan and manage the time sharing of the children so that it is clear for everyone involved. With Custody Keeper you can create a multiple year child access schedule in a matter of just a few minutes. [There is a 10-day free trial offer.]

Although we encourage parents to promote alternative dispute resolutions, mediation, and viable alternatives we recognize that there will still be parents that cannot settle their differences. As a result of the course that some parents take we provide child custody calendars, divorce tips, child custody tips, and various other resources to ensure parents are aware of the divorce and civil process.

We are also in the process of expanding resources to protect all of your legal rights and liberties and education/understanding is the starting point.

Stop Fighting Over the Kids: Receives Prestigious Award! (Good Parenting Seal)

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:43:53 -0400

Over the past several weeks we have seen quite a bit of buzz going around about the recently released book STOP Fighting Over the Kids: Resolving Day-to-Day Custody Conflict in Divorce Situations. (Click to Order)

For starters the hit book Stop Fighting Over the Kids has received the Good Parenting Seal of Approval on June 29, 2009. Evaluated by parents, the seal is awarded to books and media that address parenting issues that are clear, helpful and actionable. The Seal exists to resolve the issues of parents with limited time and money to sort through the thousands of books, millions of websites and other media when researching advice on raising children. Parental Wisdom has been award the Good Parenting certification mark by the U.S. Patent Office. For more information visit www.parentalwisdom.com. The complete press release is available through Associated Content here.

Just a few days ago we learned also that STOP Fighting Over the Kids: Resolving Day-to-Day Custody Conflict in Divorce Situations is now available in limited digitial format through Amazon's exclusive Kindle network. What this means is that the digital text/print version of the book is now available for instant delivery through any Kindle device and iPhone with appropriate software installed. The complete press release regarding this newest development is available online.

For those of you that are not aware, this july is the third annual National Child-Centered Divorce Month, celebrated by parents, the mental health community, and legal professionals, with a series of complimentary teleseminars open to all. Mike Mastracci, the legal mind and author behind STOP Fighting Over the Kids: Resolving Day-to-Day Custody Conflict in Divorce Situations will be presenting a free tele-seminar on July 14, 2009. More information about this event and Mike Mastracci's involvement is available online at Associated Content.

For more information about the book Stop Fighting Over the Kids, you can visit the official website at http://www.stopfightingoverthekids.com. You can order a copy right from the website and share it with your local library and legal professionals.

Kernville man dies after stabbing in child-custody dispute

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:32:27 -0400

Another example of how an adversarial family court process turns deadly...

The fight broke out at a home on the 200 block of Bodfish Canyon Road in Bodfish. Crystal Lee Parker, 29, lives at the home and had armed herself with a large knife after people arrived because of the child-custody dispute, according to the sheriff's office.

A Kernville man died Monday night after allegedly being stabbed during a child-custody dispute. (Bakersfield Now Eye Witness News; Kernville man dies after stabbing in child-custody dispute; May 26, 2009; Orig.)

Family Court related violence is becoming more prevalent throughout the country as spouses aim to kill one another rather than go to trial. This isn't the first time that family court turns out to be deadly business either, just take a look at this article that continues to mount evidence against an adversarial court system that is proven bad for families. Family Court is Deadly Business.

Get Your Justice Live, an online interactive talk show discussing issues relating to government policies affecting the family, encourages diversion programs to remove a significant portion of cases from the judicial docket, staying the cases, and moving them to pilot programs focusing on alternative dispute resolution. A free seminar, "Save Our Kids", promotes a viable alternative to the adversarial family court system with the ADR method known as Collaborative Law. With a reduction in the bloated judicial dockets, judicial resources will be free to deal more intimately with the high-conflict family court cases before they escalate to critically dysfunctional levels that drive people to destructive acts against other family members.

Get Your Justice Live Brings the Discussion on Parental Rights Forward March 4, 2008 at 8PM LIVE

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:18:14 -0500

We are being joined by an attorney from the Home School Defense Association to discuss the need for the upcoming Federal Parental Rights Amendment. We are also discussing the next course of action to ensure our parental rights are protected and respected by all on GET YOUR JUSTICE LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM EST.

LIVE CALL INS:724-444-7444
TALK CAST ID:39517

LIVE CHAT BOARD AT 8PM EST:..

http://www. talkshoe. com/talkshoe/web/talkCast. jsp?masterId=39517&cmd=tc

Home School Legal Defense Association is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.

This is just one of the major organizations that are coming forward to ensure the parental rights amendment gets passed.

Article About the Deaths Associated With Family Court

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:21:15 -0500

Some of you may have heard that Family Court is a Deadly Business. Well, tonight I will be updating this article again with no less than 5 more deaths associated with the adversarial family court system. The original article source is:

Family Court is Deadly Business

Check it out and start linking it anytime you see a death, murder-for-hire plot, or suicide associated with the Family Court System. It is never just a local problem. It is everywhere and it needs to stop now. Watch for more articles tonight!

Parental Alienation Recognized: Law Enforcement Arrests Mom Returns Children to Dad

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:58:36 -0500

The Signal in Santa Clarita Valley area recognized parental alienation in their most recent headline. Original Article Headline: "Ex-Wife hides two girls; Deputies return children to father"

Sheriff's deputies arrested a Valencia mom for investigation of child concealment, child endangerment and interfering with a law-enforcement investigation after they searched her home and found what they called poor living conditions, an official said Monday.

Carol Hershey, ex-wife of former Santa Clarita City Council candidate and sheriff's Lt. Mark Hershey, was taken into custody Sunday evening after she failed to comply with a court-ordered visitation by her ex-husband, said Lt. Tom Bryski. The couple's daughters, ages 12 and 13, were found hiding in a closet, Bryski said.

Mark Hershey is a lieutenant at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.

"This is a serious case of parental alienation," Mark Hershey said.

The lengths that some parents go through after an adversarial court proceeding for divorce, separation, and custody to conceal a child or to use their children to punish their former spouses is sometimes limitless. The court systems generally encourage this type of fighting as well as attorneys, counselors, and psychologists because it generates steady streams of revenue as a result of conflict.

Deputies asked for access to Carol Hershey's home on Sunday, but she refused, Bryski said. She also refused to tell the deputies the whereabouts of the two girls and falsely identified herself as Kathy, Carol Hershey's sister, he said.

Parental Alienation, according to Parental Alienation Hurts, "is any behavior by a parent, a child's mother or father, whether conscious or unconscious, that could create alienation in the relationship between a child and the other parent. Parental alienation can be mild and temporary or extreme and ongoing. Most researchers believe that any alienation of a child against (the child's) other parent is harmful to the child and to the target parent. Extreme, obsessive, and ongoing parental alienation can cause terrible psychological damage to children extending well into adulthood. Parental Alienation focuses on the alienating parents behavior as opposed to the alienated parent's and alienated children's conditions."

By recognizing that adversarial proceedings encourage parental alienation, we can put into place solutions that solve the majority of the ongoing conflict by protecting the parent-child relationship of both parents. A court system that lets parents know up front that disrespecting the other parent-child relationship will send a stronger message of positive government policy in support of both parents and children. In what should be an otherwise co-equal parenting environment reshaping the divorce, legal separation, and custody proceedings and outcomes for substantially equal time between parents will cause government systems to refocus on the parent-child relationship instead of on revenue generation for state bureaucracies.

Several websites provide information on protecting the parent-child relationships through legislation. Visit "Children Need Both Parents" at http://www.childrenneedbothparents.net for information on Federal and State proposed Constitutional Amendments as well as a study by Professor Donald Hubin on Parental Rights and Due Process.

Peter Van De Voorde Joins Get Your Justice Live from Australia.

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:36:29 -0500

Peter Van De Voorde joins us on Get Your Justice Live live from Australia. Peter hosts and produces Dads on the Air.

Listen to what is happening not just nationwide but worldwide when it comes to overreaching government policies affecting the family. Spread the word on how to "Get Your Justice Live" on Get Your Justice Live.

Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act of 2008

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:28:46 -0400

The Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act of 2008, also known as Senate Bill 3038 has two significant changes that you just might need to know about. Some people are calling for the complete annihilation of the Title IV-E Program, which as some of you already know funds the Foster Care and Child Protective Services related programs in the various states.

The original reference to Title IV-E is under the Social Security Act. You can find the complete text located at the Social Security Website or under the US Code. (Begins: 42 U.S.C. 670)

Under the Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support act of 2008, funding will be continued for the program but two notable changes are also be amended to the program. This is absolutely necessary, since it is what most would consider an essential services program. Some organizations are inadvertently calling for the non-renewal, but this is neither feasible or logical. The Federal government MUST continue to fund the state program under the contracts.

In the past, the federal government would only begin making payments to the states in the event that a child was taken and then placed with a licensed foster care facility. As you can imagine, the result was that the states wanted to be paid and would automatically place a child preferentially with a foster care facility instead of a stable relative guardian.

The first key change that occurs should S.3038 be passed, as it is anticipated to soon, the state would begin receiving payments if a child was taken and placed with a stable relative guardian. This will yield a reduction to the state foster care caseload and likely save every state money, allow for reduction of foster care caseloads, and have positive effects for the children involved. The more important factor is that a removed child will be able to continue living with relatives until the reason for the taking is cured.

Also in the past there was not a solid requirement to use electronic databases to locate the second parent that may not have any knowledge whatsoever that their child was removed from a single-parent home. Under the Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act of 2008 there will be a requirement to utilize the Federal Parent Location databases to find the other parent for placement, again increasing the likelihood of a child being placed with a relative instead of sometimes hazardous state care.

There are other significant changes to the program, including an increase in funding, but the results of this bill are likely to cause each state to pass a statute that refers to payment for relative guardian placement. In the near future if your state does not pass such a statute, we can help provide model language to get the job done.

We need to be conscious of the positive and negative effects of large programs such as this and be sure to advocate responsibly. Sometimes when one is affected by a program that sometimes has extremely horrible effects on a family, it blinds us to the original goals of the programs. Taking a step back will help ensure maximum credibility for organizations and prevent the inadvertent destruction of programs that may serve legitimate needs. There is little question that more reform is necessary to the Title IV-E programs in our nation, but those changes must be identified and merged with existing renewal bills and more responsible advocacy.

GET OFF THE BENCH LAUNCHES MEETUP.COM SITE

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:36:52 -0400

GET OFF THE BENCH LAUNCHES OFFICIAL MEETUP GROUP!
JOIN THE MEETUP.COM GROUP! Click the graphic for our official group and be ready to participate with several meaningful discussions, outside advocacy activities, and serious efforts at change. Please... no slackers. This group is for those that understand one key concept, "It is infinitely more valuable to fight for the rights of others than to fight for your own!" -Lary Holland (2005)

News Media Across the Country Informed of Parents Day (July 27, 2008)

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:39:21 -0400

Everyone has heard of Mother's Day and Father's Day, but few actually knew there was a collective federal holiday referred to as "Parent's Day" coming up this Sunday (July 27, 2008) until YOU let them know. Be sure to announce it to everyone and we appreciate you taking time out of your day to help make parents important once again. Please publish pertinent information from this message accordingly.

By operation of federal law (US Code, Title 36, Section 135), the fourth Sunday in July is officially known as Parents Day, and every level of local, state and federal government is directed by this law to officially recognize the importance of parents in the lives of children "through proclamations, activities, and educational efforts" - i.e., for once, government HAS to agree with us, and also put it in fancy writing for us, and do something "educational" about it, just for the asking... You can also see the same law here and here and here.

One mayor practically declared war on behalf of parents against government intrusion in this Proclamation that was issued compliments of the United Civil Rights Council of America.http://unitedcivilrights.org/members/ParentsDay/Proclamations/UT-SandyCity-Mayor.pdf

So as you are enjoying this weekend, know that it is up to you, the press, our churches, our families to remind everyone that government should respect and PROTECT parental rights to be just that...parents.

If you see a mother or a father, remind them that July 27, 2008 is in honor of them and encourage parents to work together on behalf of raising the next significant generation of children that will lead this great nation.

If nothing else, make mention of the National Civil Rights event for parents coming up this August 15 & 16 in honor of all those great parents out there. Many Legislators, Candidates, and Organizations are all in support of parenthood, so spread the word about tomorrow being such an important day. Check out the site as well to see information regarding several Constitutional Amendments being proposed and more.

Where we have a government that thinks it has the apparent authority to confiscate children at will, as we can see from the recent issues in Texas earlier this year, something needs to be done.

Sincerely,
Lary Holland

"WRITE TO PARENT"
5119 Highland Rd. #229

Waterford, MI 48327

Additional Inquiries:800-883-9619

http://www.dcfestival2008.com

http://www.laryholland.com/newsletters/newsletter0103.html

Bloggers and Media Cover Important Issues: Equal Parenting and Societal Issues

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:07:40 -0400

Folks, when you get a chance, post comments to great stories on the following blogs and support important issues publicly about Equal Parenting Laws and Societal Issues:

Equal Parenting Bike Trek (Dan Collins)
Dr. Helen: Dad is More Than A Paycheck
Bike Trek: Main Page At DaddyBlogger.Com
Larry Herren's Blog About Dads In the Detroit News / Detroit Free Press: Comment on Disturbing Trends!
Lansing State Journal: 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek Departs Aug. 7 From the Capitol in Lansing

and organizations like ACFC, Crispe.Org, and that is hardly even touching the tip of the iceberg.You can find a ton of support for Equal Parenting Initiatives Nationwide like the upcoming National: Washington D.C. Family Preservation Festival
UPDATE!!! The Equal Parenting Bike Trek will be received by the National DC FESTIVAL 2008 at Upper Senate Park in Washington DC on August 15 and 16 (2008)

Have You Heard About The Equal Parenting Bike Trek?

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:20:39 -0400

Several Michigan Fathers will be pedaling bycycles 758 miles from Lansing, Michigan to Washington, D.C. The event... known as the Equal Parenting Bike Trek. The purpose? To raise awareness that children need both parents. The 2007 Equal Parenting Bike Trek was a smashing success! Review the complete media coverage of last year's event. 2007 Equal Parenting Bike Trek - Pictures.

The 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek is already shaping up to be bigger and better than our 2007 event.

"A grueling 758 mile cycling trek to raise awareness of a child's fundamental right to be loved, guided, educated and nurtured equally by both fit and willing parents."

Five Michigan fathers will pedal their bicycles 758 miles from Lansing, MI to Washington, D.C.

Robb MacKenzie - Upper Penninsula of Michigan - US EPBT Founder - 2007 cyclist
Robert Pedersen - West Michigan - 2007 Runner-Up Winner in Best Life Magazine's National Hero Dad Contest, Co-Founder of A Child's Right - 2007 cyclist
Brian Downs, Esq. - Grand Rapids MI - Running for Judge in Kent County MI in 2008
Derek Bailey, MSW - Traverse City MI - American Indian. Founder of Dance4Equality
Mike Saxton - Lansing MI - Dads of Michigan

Michigan Advocates continue to progressively advance equal parenting into the mainstream political and media channels. Many of the Michigan family organizations have taken a stance that equal parenting should be the status quo for fit, willing, and caring parents without government interference.

Child Support Agencies Are Starting to Cannibalize Their Own!

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:32:54 -0500

It was pleasing to see that the child support agencies are beginning to cannabalize their own government officials. In a recent article published (see below) by the Houston Chronicle, Representative Dutton was ordered to pay back child support despite many of the children involved not even living at home. It does always please me when a bureaucracy becomes so large that it begins eating its own. It is definitely time to reign in these various bureaucracies so they only focus on the nation's most needy instead of focusing on middle and upper income feuding families. The proof is in the report below as well as http://www.nationwideblueprint.com.

I would obviously encourage those advocates that believe in the same downsizing of our supersized government to write the dear Rep. Dutton and spread some of the information from these sites.

Dece 12, 2007 Rep. Dutton ordered to pay back child support. (Copyright Houston Chronicle 2007)

A Harris County family court has awarded the ex-wife of state Rep. Harold Dutton Jr. nearly $16,000, finding the state legislator was in arrears on court-ordered child support payments.

But the court declined to hold the Houston Democrat in contempt for those late payments, rejecting his ex-wife's attempts to have him thrown into jail.

Dutton, an attorney, also was ordered to pay an additional $8,000 in legal fees to his former wife's lawyer in the ruling issued Friday by Associate Judge Conrad Moren.

Dutton has long been embroiled in a bitter legal fight with Phyllis Faykus-Dutton, the mother of four of his sons. Their divorce was finalized in 1995, but they have butted heads in court repeatedly since then.

In court papers, she has accused her ex-husband of trying to shirk his child support obligations. But Dutton said he fell behind on the payments because the original court order was "ambiguous" and failed to stipulate how his payments would change when his sons turned 18 or if they moved in with him.

Three of their sons are now living away from home, attending various universities.

A conflict of interest?

"The reason I didn't pay (child support) is because I wanted the court to tell me how much to pay — because I didn't want her to have one nickel she wasn't entitled to," the state legislator said from his Houston law office on Tuesday.

Dutton is chairman of the House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues, which occasionally oversees child support issues and other civil law matters relating to families.

In court documents earlier this year, Faykus-Dutton accused her ex-husband of introducing several legislative amendments that would personally benefit him in matters before the family court deciding his case.

Last month, Faykus-Dutton asked that the state legislator be jailed and fined for each failure to comply with the child support order. She also asked that he be placed on probation for 10 years after his release.

She accused her ex-husband of failing to make some child support payments dating back to 1999. In recent months, when he was expected to pay $1,500 a month, Harold Dutton had paid only $400 or sometimes not at all, she alleged in court papers.

"Certainly, he, as an attorney and a legislator who sets policy, needs to comply with a court order," said Myrna Davila Gregory, the attorney representing Dutton's ex-wife. "He needs to follow a court order, just like every mother or father who pays child support is required to do."

Dutton suggested that he would not have fallen behind on the payments if a ruling had been issued promptly when he questioned the ambiguity of the original court order.

Custody issue raised

He also countered that his ex-wife became angry when he recently sought custody of their youngest son, who will turn 14 later this month.

"She is trying to muddy the water because she wants to figure out everything she can do to damage me," Dutton said.

Dutton said he sought custody of the youngest boy and filed a complaint with Harris County Child Protective Services after learning the teen had allegedly been "violently whipped" with a leather belt by his mother's live-in boyfriend.

The judge Friday declined to grant Dutton temporary custody of the boy, but Dutton said he expects the issue will be revisited at a Jan. 8 hearing. For now, the teen remains with his mother.

The court battle between the former spouses has sometimes taken surprising turns.

For instance, Dutton claimed in court papers last month that his gross earnings total $600 a month and his monthly net income after deductions is $250.

Dutton, who has seven children by various women, testified last week that he is planning to adopt another child. The 3-year-old girl he wants to adopt belongs to a woman he used to date, who asked Dutton to be the child's father, he said.

Dutton also testified he is engaged to be married to another woman — not the mother of the 3-year-old girl.

"I guess my question to him was, you're adopting another child and you can't pay child support for the kids you already have?" Gregory said on Tuesday.

Attorneys are scheduled to return to court on Friday, when the judge's rulings will be officially spelled out in a court order.

Dutton, 62, was first elected to his post in 1985 and is one of the longest-serving members of the Texas House.

Reporter Doesn't Ask Any Questions: TMJ4 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:10:24 -0400

John Mercure frequently targets child support obligors in his news stories.

A recent I-Team investigations by John Mercure, TMJ4 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, seemed very irresponsible by falling prey to printing the same bureaucratic spin that is being released all over the country by concerned child support collection officers that are trying to keep their comfy government jobs at the expense of the taxpayers. Instead of rebutting the article, I took a moment to look up some statistics regarding Wisconsin's Title IV-D child support program.

Most child support collections are made for families who have never been on assistance! The program was originally intended to recuperate money expended by the federal government to the states for their welfare programs. Now the taxpayer is caught funding a glorified collection service for middle and upper income feuding families!
The most effective form of collection is through income withholding orders through Fiscal Year 2006. Income Withholding Orders are an automated task that doesn't require employees.
The Financial Data Match program is a computer generated list that is matched up electronically by the State's data contractors. This sweeps money from obligors' accounts automatically and doesn't take additional employees.
Federal and State Income Tax Off-Sets are another highly effective method of collection child support according to the federal government reports on Child Support collections. This again does not take additional employees.
Wisconsin's Total Administrative Expenses, which as of today are unaudited and likely to be plagued with immense overspending, total $108,692,436.00! At least $777,010.00 of the administrative expenses weren't even for Title IV-D / Collection services.
NON-TANF (should be income ineligible to receive government services at taxpayer expense) collections continued to increase in Fiscal Year 2006, While the collections on cases that are Welfare cases DECLINED according to federal reports.
Wisconsin has a central child support distribution center for receiving and distributing child support funds and the local county offices no longer perform this intensive function.

The program should become more efficient over time and require less employees and the middle and upper income feuding families should be removed from the program, instead the program is getting larger and claiming to need more funds to operate. The State should not focus their programs on revenue generation but on aid to needy families. This will save the taxpayers immensely. An equal custody mandate would go along way in solving expense problems as well.

A final note on child support is that the I-TEAM should be focusing its attention on ensuring that the State of Wisconsin doesn't steal money from these poor children by not distributing collected child support. In Fiscal Year 2006 there is NET UNDISTRIBUTED CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS OF $8,210,847 according to the Federal Child Support Preliminary Report for 2006. Of that Net UDC at least 8.6% of it has been completely unresolved. If this money is not distributed within one year from the date of collection the state is allowed to escheat the money into its own budget as program income, taking it out of reach of the children it was collected for! This makes it worthwhile for the State to sit on the money. Why not locate these parents and get this money distributed before it is stolen from these poor children!

John Mercure's email address is jmercure@todaystmj4.com.You can voice your opinion on the subject to him via email or peruse his blog, which has a few child support issues listed at http://www.todaystmj4.com/bloggers/mercure. Let me know if you get a response to your inquiries and I would be happy to post them here at this site.

Darrick Scott-Farnsworth: Custody Changes Could Help Women

laryholland@sbcglobal.net (Lary Holland) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:05:36 -0400

The Kalamazoo Gazette, August 27, 2007, published a letter to the editor from Darrick Scott-Farnsworth. Darrick Scott-Farnsworth is the Executive Director of A Child's Right, an organization that supports the concept of equal custody and equal parenting.

I have personally met Mr. Farnsworth and value his opinions. He poses an interesting argument, and his argument is certainly well-supported by the facts regarding Michigan's, and this Nation's, various policies over the family. Most of the policies regarding family in America are focused on failing welfare services and creative schemes for states to acquire more federal funding.

Michigan fails children, fails parents, and essentially cannibalizes its' population for the survival of various bureaucracies.

The funding mechanisms behind state programs largely contribute to longterm negative consequences, like single-parent households and multiple-generations of welfare participants living off the tax rolls, instead of positive outcomes and participant productivity contributing to the tax rolls. We need to reshape this Nation's welfare policies to become entirely gender neutral and eliminate the rolls associated with the sexes. Making rolls equal will certainly be a step in the right direction that will force self-accountability and productivity on both sides of the "great divide."

Custody changes could help women

Some feminists and politicians complain about there being a pay gap between men and women, but fight tooth and nail against actually promoting any legislation that would truly do anything about it. It has been common knowledge for years that women, on average, do not make the same amount as men doing the same type of work because women tend to take more time off to raise children.

It is also common knowledge that children are denied equal time with both of their fit parents when it comes to custody disputes, with the majority of cases and custody time being awarded to mothers.

This denying of parenting time to fathers exacerbates the continuing pay gap between sexes because fathers are being coerced into maintaining full-time employment to make ends meet and pay bloated child support.

Furthermore, the government has fostered the overall belief that it is more important for men to work and earn then it is for women.

We must get the laws changed to recognize parents are equal and that children need both of their parents to develop and thrive. We must raise the importance of the father in the home by having a presumption of equal child custody law.

Darrick Scott-Farnsworth