There is a perception that the legal system seems to be slanted towards mothers when dealing with child custody issues. Divorced fathers often face an uphill battle when it comes to seeing their children or making choices related to their upbringing. Many court systems feel that it is important that children stay with their mother, and fathers are often painted as deadbeats or abusive to ensure that the mother is granted custody.
While there are certainly situations where fathers don’t care about their children’s welfare, many good fathers are kept away from their children by overly controlling mothers. Even if parents are granted joint legal custody, where decisions about a child’s life are supposed to be made by both parents, a father may find himself not being told about school events and doctor’s appointments.
For many mothers, this is due to a well-meaning if misplaced concern that their children will be taken away from them or that they will not be granted time with their kids. However, the outcome is often that kids do not get to spend a lot of time with their father, and children may be prevented from being able to spend time with a parent during holidays or special events.
If one parent feels that the custodial parent is not doing their job or that they should be given equal time with their children, they may want legal assistance in filing a motion for a child custody modification. Additionally, order modifications may be available if a parent’s situation has changed dramatically.