This
is a news digest, not
a compilation of opinion.
Fathers & Families
takes no position on
the stories reported
here unless the context
clearly indicates so.
Local
New
Research on Restraining
Order Bias
A
new study in the June
issue of the Journal
of Family Violence
shows a correlation
between gender and outcome
in 209A restraining
order issuances. The
study has found, among
other things,
that "Women were
38% more likely than
men to be granted an
emergency protection
order at an ex parte hearing" and "Women were 32% more likely
than men to be granted
a new restraining order
when protection was
pursued at the follow-up10-day
hearing."
When the couple shares
a child, men are 110%
more likely to be
evicted. The study was
done in Gardner
district court.
Go
to Abstract for Article
**********
SJC
Ruling on Parental Rights
and Child Support
The
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
has ruled that when
a father gives up his
parental rights, he
may still have a duty
to pay child support.
An Essex County
man had consented to
have his infant daughter
adopted when the child's
attorney attempted to
petition the court for
child support payments.
The state's highest
court affirmed the order
for child support.
Go
to SJC Opinion
**********
Massachusetts Also Has Father Registry
Fathers
& Families recently
mentioned New
Mexico's
putative father registry
in one of our weekly
news digests. It has
been brought to our
attention that Massachusetts
has a similar registry
maintained by the Department
of Social Services.
Claims can be submitted
by filling out a form
from DSS. The registry
allows would-be dads
to register in order
to secure their future
rights as fathers
Go
to see the Text of the
Law
**********
National
Bill
Would Allow for 'Virtual
Visitations'
A
man in Wisconsin is pushing for a bill that would
allow judges to include
"virtual visitation",
such as video- conferencing,
in divorce cases. The
same man has helped
passed similar legislation
in Utah
where he resided before
he moved to Wisconsin
to be closer to his
daughter. The Wisconsin
bill includes language
to ensure that judges
don't replace actual
visitation with virtual
visitation or use them
as an excuse for a move-away.
Go
to Virtual Visitation
Story
**********
International
Australian
Schools Can't Handle
Divorced Parents
Australia seems to be facing problems similar to those just resolved
in Massachusetts.
Public schools there
are unequipped to deal
with divorced parents
when it comes to keeping
both of them involved.
"A common complaint
of nonresidential parents
is that they have reduced
or no access to information
such as school reports,
school photos and important
events such as sports
days or parent-teacher
nights." Advocates
are currently working
to reform the system.
Go
to Australian Story
**********
Scottish
Bill Would Recognize
Rights for Unwed Fathers
A
bill in Scotland would
automatically give unmarried
fathers basic rights
and responsibilities
if passed. The Scottish
Executive's Family Law
Bill has gained the
support of an influential
group of MSPs,
but still needs to get
through the justice
1 committee before it
goes any further. The
details have not yet
been worked out, but
committee said the bill
would introduce "basic
legal safeguards"
without giving them
the same status as marriage
or civil partnerships.
Go
to the Scotsman Story
**********
Spain to Pass New 'Gender Equality' Law
The
Spanish parliament is
set to pass new legislation
that would change marriage
contracts to include
promises of equal housework,
childrearing, and elderly
care. Such state-imposed
mandates when it comes
to marriage contracts
could spell trouble
for divorce and custody
rights. According to
The Australian,
"judges will now
consider men's commitment
to this pledge when
ruling on separations
and child access."
Interestingly, the legislation
does not require both
parties to share in
work outside of the
home. This comes just
a week after Spain's
draconian legislation
on domestic violence.
Go
to Spanish News Story
**********
Chile to Increase Power to Use DNA Testing
A
new law in Chile will
allow the courts to
order that men undergo
DNA testing in paternity
disputes. If a man refuses
a court-ordered test,
then he will automatically
be given legal responsibility
for the child. The new
law should clear up
any paternity confusion
in Chile
where more than 10%
of children do not have
legally recognized fathers.
Go
to BBC Story
**********