http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2816109/Dads-weigh-in-over-child-support
Dads weigh in over child support
By PHIL HAMILTON - The Press
Last updated 05:00 31/08/2009
Fathers are backing a Families Commission proposal for more shared parenting ahead of a review of the child-support scheme.
Inland Revenue will shortly release a discussion document on possible changes to the child-support scheme.
In response, the Families Commission has released an issues paper that suggests child support should be based on the needs and costs of the child, rather than on the income of the liable parent, and payments should be passed on to the parent who is getting the domestic purposes benefit or other social security benefit.
Jonathan Young, a former Father and Child Trust social worker and father of one, said the Families Commission proposals made sense and would be fairer for fathers.
He said most fathers with whom he had dealt wanted to support their children, but objected to paying money to Inland Revenue which did not help their children.
"A lot of these guys were having the kids a couple of days, paying school fees and clothes, and then paying child support on top," he said.
"That child support wasn't benefiting the children; it was just going into the government coffers because the mother was on the DPB.
"They would much rather pay that money if they knew it was going to be spent on the kids."
Union of Fathers spokesman Darrell Carlin said the proposals would be more equitable and balanced.
"But the key is equal-shared custody," he said.
"Then the costs are shared equally. I think it's inevitable that we head to solutions like that, but it's a case of how long do we dance for? The pace of change is glacial."
Carlin said when he separated from his wife 10 years ago he was prevented from seeing his child, but still had his salary garnered.
"I was reeling from the fact I had a young child I suddenly wasn't able to see," he said.
"Then the child support kicked in. My employer came in and said we're taking this money out each week and that was the first I heard of it."
Eventually, Carlin got shared custody.
"When he's with me I pay, and she pays when he's with her, and it becomes so straightforward at that point."
Carlin said child support based on income, rather than the children's needs, was always a problem for the person paying.
"I don't find many fathers who don't want to support their kids, but they're troubled supporting their ex's lifestyle.
"We try to get the guys to bring payments down to a minimum and then they can say `I will pay for shoes and uniforms'.
"Then we find they will pay more than required. It's human nature. If you're told you must do it, it's irritating and you try to buck the system."
Chief Families Commissioner Dr Jan Pryor said with one in four children living in a sole-parent family at some point in their lives, the issues of separated parenting were of vital concern to New Zealand families.
"We must make the most of this opportunity to do the best we can for these children and their parents," she said.
Figures released this month show that almost a third of liable parents are shunning their child-support obligations, the highest rate in five years.
At June 30, the shortfall totalled $1.5 billion.
Inland Revenue is chasing more than $527 million owed by parents, with more than $1b owed in penalties.
However, one third of all debt is owed by Kiwi parents living overseas.
Figures issued under the Official Information Act show more than 127,000 parents have child-support obligations, but 37,702, or 29.5 per cent, fail to pay.
The debt owed by 547 parents earning six-figure salaries has nearly doubled in three years to $10.9m.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
St. Augustine man kills himself before jury's 'not guilty' verdict
St. Augustine man kills himself before jury's 'not guilty' verdict
ST. AUGUSTINE - Authorities say a St. Augustine man on trial for sexual battery charges apparently killed himself before learning the verdict: not guilty.
A St. Johns County judge became concerned Thursday when 57-year-old William Telano Evans didn't show up for the reading of the verdict. The judge sent deputies to find Evans but let the jury read its verdict without him present.
Evans, never hearing the verdict, was found at his home minutes later dead of a gunshot wound.Evans was arrested in 2004 after a now-38-year-old woman reported that he began routinely molesting her about 29 years ago when she was 9 or 10.
Link: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-man-on-trial-suicide-bn082809,0,6096103.story
ST. AUGUSTINE - Authorities say a St. Augustine man on trial for sexual battery charges apparently killed himself before learning the verdict: not guilty.
A St. Johns County judge became concerned Thursday when 57-year-old William Telano Evans didn't show up for the reading of the verdict. The judge sent deputies to find Evans but let the jury read its verdict without him present.
Evans, never hearing the verdict, was found at his home minutes later dead of a gunshot wound.Evans was arrested in 2004 after a now-38-year-old woman reported that he began routinely molesting her about 29 years ago when she was 9 or 10.
Link: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-man-on-trial-suicide-bn082809,0,6096103.story
Saturday, August 29, 2009
UK - F4J What About The Father?
http://newfathers4justice.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-about-fatherlesbian-partners.html
WHAT ABOUT THE FATHER?? Lesbian partners allowed to name each other as parents on children's birth certificates
Posted by SPIDER on the ROOF at 01:39
Lesbian women undergoing fertility treatment will be able to name female partners as a 'second parent' on their children's birth certificates under controversial changes to be implemented next week.
Ministers are pushing ahead with new regulations despite criticism that they represent another blow to traditional family values.
The Government is also removing the need for IVF clinics to consider a child's 'need for a father' when approving fertility treatment.
Dreams to become a reality: Lesbian mums will be able to put both their names on their children's birth certificates
For women who are in a civil partnership and who use donor sperm, the lesbian partner will automatically be named unless they make a written objection.
Single women who give birth using IVF will be allowed to nominate another woman to share legal parentage, whether or not they are in a civil partnership. The 'second parent' in such circumstances will have to give their written consent.
The change will apply to many of the 2,000 women a year who have IVF using sperm from anonymous donors.
There is concern that the new arrangements will create a legal minefield, since 'second parents' named on birth certificates will assume the legal rights and responsibilities of biological parents.
They could fight for visitation rights and be chased for child support payments if their relationship with the mother breaks down.
Critics also warn that 'second parents' could be nominated in much the same way that godparents are now, since it will be impossible to prove whether someone selected by a single mother not in a civil partnership really is a long-term partner or not.
Labour MP Geraldine Smith said: 'To have a birth certificate with two mothers and no father is just madness.
'Common sense has completely gone out of the window. It's very unfair on the children for the state to be colluding to hide their real genetic parentage. The birth certificate
'I think it's putting the interests of adults first, rather than the welfare of the unborn child, and that's contrary to the way the system has always worked in the past.
Tory MP Nadine Dorries said the change sent the wrong message to society on the importance of the traditional family.
'Everything indicates that a mother and father looking after children in the traditional unit works best,' she said.
'This move further undermines that model and sends out the wrong message.'
Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: 'It's a peculiarly postmodern way of looking at the world, with almost any family arrangement seen as equally valid.
'My criticism of this is that effectively it creates a legal fiction around the parentage of children. The names of people on the birth certificate will have no relationship at all to the child.
'It will create a legal minefield when it comes to issues like maintenance and inheritance.
'The best interests of the child should always take precedence over parental choice. It's tragic that we are creating life in these kind of circumstances when there's a huge amount that could be done for existing children, in terms of adoption.'
Under provisions in Labour's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, fertility doctors will no longer have to have to consider a child's need for a male role model, simply 'supportive parenting'.
The Archbishop of York led religious objections to the Government's proposals, claiming they were designed to remove the father from the heart of the family.
Dr John Sentamu warned that ministers were putting the interests of 'consumers' who wanted to become parents before the welfare of children.
Polls found that eight out of ten people believe a child has a right to two parents and that six out of ten believe that a child should have male and female parents.
Critics accuse Labour of a systematic attempt to undermine traditional family roles. It has removed the traditional terms 'husband', 'wife' and 'spouse' from a wide range of official forms, and replaced them with the word 'partner'.
Ruth Hunt, of gay rights group Stonewall, said the change in the law would end discrimination.
'Now lesbian couples in Britain who make a considered decision to start a loving family will finally be afforded equal access to services they help fund as taxpayers,' she said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209829/Lesbian-partners-allowed-parents-childrens-birth-certificates.html#ixzz0PYjvtiUq
WHAT ABOUT THE FATHER?? Lesbian partners allowed to name each other as parents on children's birth certificates
Posted by SPIDER on the ROOF at 01:39
Lesbian women undergoing fertility treatment will be able to name female partners as a 'second parent' on their children's birth certificates under controversial changes to be implemented next week.
Ministers are pushing ahead with new regulations despite criticism that they represent another blow to traditional family values.
The Government is also removing the need for IVF clinics to consider a child's 'need for a father' when approving fertility treatment.
Dreams to become a reality: Lesbian mums will be able to put both their names on their children's birth certificates
For women who are in a civil partnership and who use donor sperm, the lesbian partner will automatically be named unless they make a written objection.
Single women who give birth using IVF will be allowed to nominate another woman to share legal parentage, whether or not they are in a civil partnership. The 'second parent' in such circumstances will have to give their written consent.
The change will apply to many of the 2,000 women a year who have IVF using sperm from anonymous donors.
There is concern that the new arrangements will create a legal minefield, since 'second parents' named on birth certificates will assume the legal rights and responsibilities of biological parents.
They could fight for visitation rights and be chased for child support payments if their relationship with the mother breaks down.
Critics also warn that 'second parents' could be nominated in much the same way that godparents are now, since it will be impossible to prove whether someone selected by a single mother not in a civil partnership really is a long-term partner or not.
Labour MP Geraldine Smith said: 'To have a birth certificate with two mothers and no father is just madness.
'Common sense has completely gone out of the window. It's very unfair on the children for the state to be colluding to hide their real genetic parentage. The birth certificate
'I think it's putting the interests of adults first, rather than the welfare of the unborn child, and that's contrary to the way the system has always worked in the past.
Tory MP Nadine Dorries said the change sent the wrong message to society on the importance of the traditional family.
'Everything indicates that a mother and father looking after children in the traditional unit works best,' she said.
'This move further undermines that model and sends out the wrong message.'
Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: 'It's a peculiarly postmodern way of looking at the world, with almost any family arrangement seen as equally valid.
'My criticism of this is that effectively it creates a legal fiction around the parentage of children. The names of people on the birth certificate will have no relationship at all to the child.
'It will create a legal minefield when it comes to issues like maintenance and inheritance.
'The best interests of the child should always take precedence over parental choice. It's tragic that we are creating life in these kind of circumstances when there's a huge amount that could be done for existing children, in terms of adoption.'
Under provisions in Labour's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, fertility doctors will no longer have to have to consider a child's need for a male role model, simply 'supportive parenting'.
The Archbishop of York led religious objections to the Government's proposals, claiming they were designed to remove the father from the heart of the family.
Dr John Sentamu warned that ministers were putting the interests of 'consumers' who wanted to become parents before the welfare of children.
Polls found that eight out of ten people believe a child has a right to two parents and that six out of ten believe that a child should have male and female parents.
Critics accuse Labour of a systematic attempt to undermine traditional family roles. It has removed the traditional terms 'husband', 'wife' and 'spouse' from a wide range of official forms, and replaced them with the word 'partner'.
Ruth Hunt, of gay rights group Stonewall, said the change in the law would end discrimination.
'Now lesbian couples in Britain who make a considered decision to start a loving family will finally be afforded equal access to services they help fund as taxpayers,' she said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209829/Lesbian-partners-allowed-parents-childrens-birth-certificates.html#ixzz0PYjvtiUq
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Family Court 'flawed'
http://www.news. com.au/heraldsun /story/0, 21985,25966035- 662,00.html
Herald Sun Melbourne Australia
23 August 2009
Family Court 'flawed' says Michael Lermontov-Midgley
By Laurie Nowell
Secrecy surrounding Family Court cases protects people who make false accusations and hides incompetence a submission to the Senate review of family law says.
The submission by historian and former Family Court litigant Michael Lermontov-Midgley says family law cases should become publicly transparent, with the parties identified.
"The Family Law Act bans the publication of anything that may identify, or tend to identify, parties to proceedings - ostensibly to protect children from publicity," Mr Lermontov-Midgley says.
"It also shields bias, negligence and incompetence in the system and people who make false allegations of spousal violence and/or child abuse without the threat of defamation or the burden of proof required in other courts.
"... these false allegations are being raised as a tactical manoeuvre in family law proceedings. "
Mr Lermontov-Midgley also says lawyers deliberately spin out the legal process for financial gain. The submission comes as a case has emerged of a father, wrongly accused of sexual abuse by his estranged wife, who lost his job, his home and spent $18,000 clearing his name.
"Jim", who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was accused of touching his teenage daughter's breasts.
During the week, he told of the 15-month ordeal that left him broke, sleepless and suffering depression.
He is rebuilding his life after a magistrate dismissed the charges against him, finding his wife a "difficult and untruthful witness" who gave "self-serving evidence".
But he has not seen his two children since last Christmas because his wife refuses to abide by a Family Court order that he have regular access.
"I've lost everything and I was accused of a heinous crime of which I am now proven innocent," Jim said.
"There is something wrong with the system that things were allowed to get to the point where I was arrested, fingerprinted and charged on such obviously flawed evidence."
Herald Sun Melbourne Australia
23 August 2009
Family Court 'flawed' says Michael Lermontov-Midgley
By Laurie Nowell
Secrecy surrounding Family Court cases protects people who make false accusations and hides incompetence a submission to the Senate review of family law says.
The submission by historian and former Family Court litigant Michael Lermontov-Midgley says family law cases should become publicly transparent, with the parties identified.
"The Family Law Act bans the publication of anything that may identify, or tend to identify, parties to proceedings - ostensibly to protect children from publicity," Mr Lermontov-Midgley says.
"It also shields bias, negligence and incompetence in the system and people who make false allegations of spousal violence and/or child abuse without the threat of defamation or the burden of proof required in other courts.
"... these false allegations are being raised as a tactical manoeuvre in family law proceedings. "
Mr Lermontov-Midgley also says lawyers deliberately spin out the legal process for financial gain. The submission comes as a case has emerged of a father, wrongly accused of sexual abuse by his estranged wife, who lost his job, his home and spent $18,000 clearing his name.
"Jim", who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was accused of touching his teenage daughter's breasts.
During the week, he told of the 15-month ordeal that left him broke, sleepless and suffering depression.
He is rebuilding his life after a magistrate dismissed the charges against him, finding his wife a "difficult and untruthful witness" who gave "self-serving evidence".
But he has not seen his two children since last Christmas because his wife refuses to abide by a Family Court order that he have regular access.
"I've lost everything and I was accused of a heinous crime of which I am now proven innocent," Jim said.
"There is something wrong with the system that things were allowed to get to the point where I was arrested, fingerprinted and charged on such obviously flawed evidence."
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
THE HERMIT CRAB
THE HERMIT CRAB
King David, the author of so many Psalms, grew weary of his struggles. He was so tired in soul, so embattled and beset by troubles, all he wanted was to escape to a place of peace and safety: “My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me…. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest…. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest” (Psalm 55:4-8).
A lesson from nature reveals what happens when we trade the good fight for an easier way and walk away from our struggle. I recently read a biologist’s study on crabs, creatures that live in a rough, dangerous environment among jagged rocks. Crabs are dashed about daily by waves and attacked on every side by creatures from deeper waters. They battle continually to protect themselves, and over time they develop a strong shell and powerful instincts for survival.
Amazingly, some in the crab family give up the struggle for life. Searching for a safe haven, they take up residence in the cast-off shells of other ocean creature. These crabs are known as hermit crabs. Settling for safety, they retreat from the battle and escape into secondhand houses that are ready-made.
But hermit crabs’ “safe houses” prove to be costly and ruinous. Through their lack of struggle, crucial parts of their bodies deteriorate. Even their organs wither due to lack of use. Over time the hermit crab loses all power of motion, as well as vital parts needed for escape. These limbs simply fall off, leaving the crab out of danger but useless to do anything except exist.
Meanwhile, crabs that continued the struggle grow and flourish. Their five pairs of legs become meaty and strong from resisting the powerful tides. And they learn to hide from their predators by skillfully scuttling under rock formations.
This law of nature, too, illustrates the law of the Spirit. As believers, we get tossed and pounded by wave after wave of difficulties. We face vicious predators in Satan’s principalities and powers. But as we fight on, we grow stronger. And we come to recognize the devil’s wiles when he employs them against us. We discover our true refuge, the “cleft in the rock,” by trusting in Jesus. Only then are we truly safe in the midst of our battle.
King David, the author of so many Psalms, grew weary of his struggles. He was so tired in soul, so embattled and beset by troubles, all he wanted was to escape to a place of peace and safety: “My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me…. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest…. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest” (Psalm 55:4-8).
A lesson from nature reveals what happens when we trade the good fight for an easier way and walk away from our struggle. I recently read a biologist’s study on crabs, creatures that live in a rough, dangerous environment among jagged rocks. Crabs are dashed about daily by waves and attacked on every side by creatures from deeper waters. They battle continually to protect themselves, and over time they develop a strong shell and powerful instincts for survival.
Amazingly, some in the crab family give up the struggle for life. Searching for a safe haven, they take up residence in the cast-off shells of other ocean creature. These crabs are known as hermit crabs. Settling for safety, they retreat from the battle and escape into secondhand houses that are ready-made.
But hermit crabs’ “safe houses” prove to be costly and ruinous. Through their lack of struggle, crucial parts of their bodies deteriorate. Even their organs wither due to lack of use. Over time the hermit crab loses all power of motion, as well as vital parts needed for escape. These limbs simply fall off, leaving the crab out of danger but useless to do anything except exist.
Meanwhile, crabs that continued the struggle grow and flourish. Their five pairs of legs become meaty and strong from resisting the powerful tides. And they learn to hide from their predators by skillfully scuttling under rock formations.
This law of nature, too, illustrates the law of the Spirit. As believers, we get tossed and pounded by wave after wave of difficulties. We face vicious predators in Satan’s principalities and powers. But as we fight on, we grow stronger. And we come to recognize the devil’s wiles when he employs them against us. We discover our true refuge, the “cleft in the rock,” by trusting in Jesus. Only then are we truly safe in the midst of our battle.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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