UnityWall.com

Gil Bardige

"The Best Interest of the Child," those words are so easy to comprehend but to everyone in the Domestic Relations and Family Courts they appear to be written in a language they cannot understand.

How can it be in the child's interest that they can be separated from one parent at the whim of someone? How can the decision makers be given power over people's lives without adequate first hand knowledge or training to know the severe consequences?

There is no logic or common sense in the current system. Children deserve to be parented by both of their parents and the only exception should be proven abuse.

The government has the power but not the willpower to change this. It is very simple. It is in the best interest of the child (and all parties) to:

-Finalize the end of the marriage quickly within 6 months.

-Prevent attorneys and judges from extending and delaying action...that alone hurts the children by preventing them from getting on with their lives.

-Ensure that children are equally by both parents and that child support is fair and equitable and follows the child.

-Severely punish perjury by parents and others who falsely accuse the other parent of abuse or contempt

-Prevent parents from leaving the jurisdiction of the court with the child when the other parent objects.

-Provide low cost effective mediation and counseling to parents of divorce to reduce high conflict divorces.

-Require parents to write their own parenting plans and stop forcing good parents into bad parenting situations.

-Stop rewarding local and state governments for implementing bad policies that have a life of their own--what happened to sunshine laws--child support should be one of them.

Divorce is hard on everyone. It is best if it is over within months not years. The only losers would be the lawyers.

Like most good parents I am for both parents to support their children, financially and otherwise.

I am against all forms of abuse.

The government must take action. I'll be glad to help them.