There was a recent thread regarding this that's now fallen to page 3 or so.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6964333#6967399**If the mods want to append my comments to the above link they can do so, but I believe there would be few responses at this point, due to the original having fallen off the page.
I'm here to say that I am ENCOURAGED to see that fathers' rights groups are finally getting a forum in this country. Before the flames begin, I would like to state that I am female, I am a licensed clinical (independent) social worker and I am not anti-feminist nor a misogynist.
The Cliff Notes version of my experience is that over the past year and a half my son has been driven into financial ruin because of a contentious divorce driven ENTIRELY by his (now) ex-wife's litigation in the Family Courts over what amounts to trivia. And the only beneficiaries are the lawyers.
I hesitate to go into great detail with this because, even though the divorce was final months ago, (non)-issues are
still in litigation. That, and a discussion of the past year's events would fill a book. Those here who want to attack my position can do so. I know what I am talking about. I've lived it.
Suffice it to say that at the time of the separation my son and daughter-in-law were drowning in debt. There was nothing, and I mean NOTHING to fight over. No property (the house was in foreclosure), no stocks, summer homes, yachts, antiques, etc. Nothing.
To date, attorney fees incurred for litigation over non-issues amounts to something over $40,000. I say "incurred" because, while some of that amount has been paid, some will never be paid. There is no money left.
I'm willing to speak before any group that will have me, with the intention of raising awareness about the abominable state of Domestic Relations courts in this country and encouraging steps toward reform.
In my view, there are many lawyers out there who have no business practicing family law. Unless they are committed to being problem-solvers as well as lawyers, they should find another area of expertise. This goes for family law court judges as well.
In that regard, the University of Dayton (Ohio) Law School promotes the idea of "Lawyer as Problem-Solver". What a novel idea!
In addition, I've observed that some lawyers are seeing the utility of having a graduate social work degree as well as as JD. And I know of one school of social work that offers or is thinking of offering a dual-track, law/social work degree.
These are the kind of people we need in our family law courts. Something has got to be done to assure that people who know something about family dynamics are making crucial legal decisions that have the potential to negatively impact family members who aren't even parties to the case.
ETA> To clarify... When I refer to men's rights groups I mean outside groups, not any DU group or forum.