Some Utah adoption agencies ‘coach’ mothers to take rights from fathers

Utah Adoption Council president resigns amid fathers’ rights controversy

www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=20327495

Errant mother in custody, photo by Janet Johnston

A 12-gauge shotgun was also recovered in the same bedroom, where a 7-year-old child had been staying. Officers contacted the Department of Human Services to take custody of the child. Johnston, who is seven-and-a-half months pregnant, This story from Missouri’s Villager Journal:

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Tammy Curtis, Staff Writer

A Highland couple was arrested on drug charges April 30, and a young child was removed from the home after a search warrant by the Highland Police Department yielded methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a shotgun.

According to the affidavit for a warrant, Janet D. Johnston, 39, of Hardy and Jessie Rogers, 51, of Hardy were arrested after officers located several items suspected to be involved in the sale and distribution of illegal drugs, narcotics and prescription medications from their home in Hardy.

In a bedroom shared by the couple, officers confiscated a crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Other drugs and drug paraphernalia, including, glass smoking pipes, torches, prescription pills, a bag of a crystal rock-type substance, razors, a digital scale and a used syringe were seized.

A 12-gauge shotgun was also recovered in the same bedroom, where a 7-year-old child had been staying.

Pregnant mother arrested, child taken into protective custody

http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1847423.html

fox13now.com/2012/05/09/petition-hearing-closed-for-teen-accusing-father-of-u-scientists-death/

MACOMB — The chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court has announced another expansion of the state’s experiment with cameras in the courtrooms, saying it appeared to be working well in the circuit courts where it already is being tried.

Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride said the order would be issued Monday for the approved the use of cameras in the 17th Judicial Circuit, which is comprised of Boone and Winnebago counties in northern Illinois. That court system joins four other circuits already experimenting with television cameras and photographers, including the 15th circuit in northwest Illinois, the 3rd circuit in Madison County, the 21st circuit in Kankakee County and the 14th circuit near the Quad Cities.

“I believe cameras in the courtroom, as an experiment, is going to sell itself,” Kilbride said. “All the reports are that the press and media are working together famously well, in a successful manner. … There are some judges who are cooperative, and some who are not always so cooperative, but I think certainly all those judges who have decided to participate are interested in working with the media.”

2 more counties can allow court cameras

http://www.galesburg.com/newsnow/x206665431/2-more-counties-can-allow-court-cameras

SEATTLE — A Washington woman was charged Monday with first-degree child assault after authorities said she repeatedly put bleach into the eyes of her then-14-month-old daughter, potentially blinding her.

Jennifer Lynn Mothershead, 29, of Buckley was booked into the Pierce County Jail on Friday. She is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.

Doctors at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center and Seattle Children’s hospital became suspicious after the alleged victim was airlifted to Harborview on May 12, 2011. The child was hospitalized for a brain injury, and doctors found “bruising and an eye infection that was concerning,” Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor Grant Blinn wrote in charging documents.

The girl might be permanently blinded, according to the documents.

She was removed from her mother’s custody after the hospital visit last year, Blinn said. Now 2 years old, she lives with her father. The couple are separated, authorities said.

During a court hearing Monday, Mothershead pleaded not guilty to the charge. A judge forbid her from having contact with the child or other minors, Blinn said.

Mothershead has another young child, also not in her care; custody of that child is being hammered out in family court, authorities said.

When asked last year about the eye infection, Mothershead said the girl’s eyes had been swollen shut for about four weeks and that the child slept almost 22 hours each day, according to charges. She believed the girl had “a corneal abrasion” caused by playing in a barn.

Washington woman is accused of putting bleach in daughter’s eyes

http://www.the-leader.com/newsnow/x272275847/Washington-woman-is-accused-of-putting-bleach-in-daughters-eyes

Jennifer Mothershed is accused of putting bleach in her 14 month old daughter’s eyes.

The New York Daily News reporter Philip Caulfield notes in his story: The mother’s behavior was later revealed in May 2011 when the tot was brought to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center with a major head injury.

Hospital workers there called the cops because they suspected the girl was being abused, and detectives quizzed Mothershead about why the girl’s eyes were swollen shut.

A suspicious staff member eventually took a whiff of the eyedrops and noticed a strong, chemical smell, the station said.

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ed Troyer told Q13 Fox that one detective gave the drops the baby-bottle test on his wrist — and wound up burning himself.

“We found one of the eye drop bottles of chemicals, which basically burned our detectives,” Ed Troyer told the station.

“It obviously wasn’t something that should be going in someone’s eyes.”

An FDA chemists later determined the eyedropper was filled with bleach.

“The staff at Harborview determined that the damage to the child’s eyes was consistent with repeated exposure to bleach, and ruled out any possibility that the eye dropper had been merely cleaned with bleach,” Pierce County prosecutors said in a statement.

Mothershead was arrested on Friday after a nearly year-long investigation. Her bail was set at $150,000.

The little girl, now 2, lost vision in her right eye, but her condition was said to be improved.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/washington-mom-burned-baby-eyes-bleach-prosecutors-article-1.1070694#ixzz1tfeJajBs

HARTFORD — The House unanimously approved legislation Monday to protect the parental rights of military personnel on deployment. The bill would bar state courts from entering any final orders modifying child custody arrangements during a service member’s deployment or mobilization. The measure permits courts to modify custody or visitation orders 90 days after the deployment, according to the measure.

Bill protects parental rights

http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2012/05/01/news/local/638602.txt

Raleigh, N.C. (PRWEB) March 29, 2012

Raleigh divorce lawyer Charles R. Ullman today cautioned divorcing couples in North Carolina about blasting their exes on social-networking sites. He spoke in reaction to a recent news report about legal penalties imposed on a man for criticizing his former wife and the judicial

Raleigh divorce attorney Charles R. Ullman

system on Facebook.

According to the USA Today article, a magistrate ordered an Ohio man to issue a public apology to his wife on his Facebook page for 30 days. Otherwise, he would face 60 days in jail for statements he made on the site. Those comments included calling her “an evil, vindictive woman,” the newspaper said.

“Slamming a soon-to-be ex-spouse online can cause serious damage in divorce proceedings,” Ullman said. “Nothing on social networking sites can be truly private, no matter how many security settings a person places on their account. Divorce lawyers have gleaned plenty of evidence in their clients’ favor through sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Google+.”

Ullman is the founding attorney of the family law firm of Charles R. Ullman & Associates. The firm’s Raleigh divorce attorneys focus on helping clients with divorce, separation and related domestic law issues in Wake County and across North Carolina.

He pointed to a 2010 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers survey. More than 80 percent of the AAML’s members said in the survey that they had gathered information about their clients’ spouses from social-networking sites. The attorney said they used the information in divorce proceedings. Two-thirds of the lawyers cited Facebook as a primary source of evidence.

“The information you can get from sites like Facebook can be very incriminating,” Ullman said. “Photos can point to lifestyle choices such as partying, using drugs or spending extravagantly.

That information can have serious implications when it comes to determining issues of spousal support, child custody, child visitation, property distribution and protective orders.”

According to USA Today, legal experts are questioning the free speech implications in the Ohio case and whether a court can order someone to write and publish particular statements.

The Raleigh family law firm of Charles R. Ullman & Associates, located on 109 S. Bloodworth St. in Raleigh, N.C., concentrates on family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, alimony, post-separation support and equitable distribution. Ullman is also a trained collaborative law attorney. For more information, contact the firm by calling (919) 829-1006 or use its online form.

Use Facebook With Caution, Raleigh Divorce Lawyer Says

www.prweb.com/releases/raleigh-divorce-lawyer/facebook-evidence/prweb9344909.htm

Legislation is making its way toward the Senate and House floors in Minnesota that would substantially reshape child custody negotiations for divorcing parents.

Right now, the presumption in divorce cases is that mentally fit and safe parents are each entitled to 25 percent custody and time with their children. The remaining 50 percent of custody rights are divvied up by a judge’s ruling — unless the parents reach agreement on their own. Friday morning, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to consider a bill that would increase that presumption to 40 percent — meaning that only 20 percent of time with children would be left open for negotiation.

The change is being pursued in particular by advocates for fathers’ rights, because of the history in divorce proceedings of mothers gaining larger shares of child custody. Supporters also point to the wealth of research showing that children are generally healthier and more well-adjusted when they have two involved parents. Opponents believe the change would be too restrictive for modern families, especially when some single parents aren’t able to commit 40 percent of their time to raising their children.

It’s a fascinating debate well-summarized in January by Patrick Thornton in an article for Minnesota Lawyer. On one side, in his article, was Molly Olson of the Center for Parental Responsibility:

“The current system we have is far outdated. Forty-five years ago women did not work, and it was not the father’s duty to be a parent. Well, we live in a different culture now. We have had a one-size-fits-all model where one parent is the winner and one is the loser [in a divorce.] This bill puts both parents on an equal playing field.”

On the other side is family law attorney Michael Dittberner, who said the bill would create a cookie-cutter approach to complex divorce proceedings:

“There are sometimes families in which one parent has a greater role in parenting than the other parent. That is the bottom line. And if you create a presumption that both parents should get equal parenting time, you are focusing not on the children but instead on the parent’s wishes.” Email: jeremy.olson@startribune.com

What’s in a number? Minnesota’s shared custody debate …

http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/144935315.html

Indianapolis Family Lawfirm of Ruppert and Schaefer

Indianapolis, Indiana lawfirm notes a prenuptial agreement may protect children from previous marriages. We can help you make sense of the Indiana parenting time guidelines and will work towards a positive solution with your case. Call (317) 660-8243 to speak …: Ruppert and Schaefer is the lawfirm offering the opinion regarding, The Benefits of a Prenuptial Agreement

Some people are reluctant to consider the use of a prenuptial agreement because they think it can create mistrust in the relationship or pave the way for divorce. Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. believes otherwise – that an agreement can enhance the trust between the parties by removing potential areas of conflict from discussion or the silent thoughts of the parties. It can ensure that children of previous marriages receive the assets of their parents. A prenuptial agreement can also foster conversations between the soon-to-be spouses regarding money management, estate planning, and even lifestyle choices. Should a divorce occur, a prenup can reduce the strife and costs associated with the division of marital property.

Protecting Your Assets

Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C. has created numerous prenuptial agreements for persons ranging from modest financial circumstances to significant assets. We understand the legal requirements of such agreements under Indiana law, and will work to ensure that your assets are protected through a legally binding and valid document.

For a consultation with an attorney at Ruppert & Schaefer, P.C., call 317.580.9295 or contact us online.

Additional information on the topic of prenuptial agreements appears in our article Law Recognizes Growing Need for Prenuptial Agreements.

Prenuptial Agreements

http://www.randsfamilylaw.com/PracticeAreas/Prenuptial-Agreements.asp

It takes hard work and commitment to build strong relationships which grow and mature as your child advances toward adulthood. Maintaining these rights during and after divorce is an indispensible element in the stability and happiness of children. A father may become reluctant when faced with divorce or estrangement from his children’s mother, to assert his rights. Whether fear of confrontation, or a belief it is better not to create conflict causes a dad to back off, it is a mistake. Your happiness and the health and well-being of your children, may well depend on your strength and insistence on your father’s rights. Even Georgia courts may not fully recognize the important roll a father’s continued presence plays in lives of his children after divorce. It is vital to engage a knowledgeable Atlanta father’s rights attorney capable of advocating for you during your divorce and of educating judges on toll fatherlessness can take on children and families. We are dedicated to presenting the full picture fatherhood plays in shaping a better and more promising future for your children.

At Deering & Deering, P.C. we understand fatherless children face far greater risk than those with both parents present working amicably on their behalf. That is why we encourage every father to preserve the integrity of his relationship with his children by asserting his father’s rights to child custody when it is in his children’s best interests. Email: pdd@deeringlaw.com

Atlanta Father’s Rights Advocates: Proponents for Fathers’ Custody, Parenting and Visitation Rights

http://www.atlantafathersrightslawyer.com/