Solutions

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Positive Solutions

Virginia's divorce rate currently ranks among the worst in the nation. With nearly half of all marriages ending in divorce, it affects all of us.

When divorce occurs, current law makes one parent the sole custodian, over 90% of the time it is the mother. The father merely has "visitation privileges." He loses the legal right to parent his child and therefore the child looses frequent parental contact and involvement from his or her father.

However, all competent studies and data point to joint physical custody and shared parenting as being the best solutions for children: the highest child support compliance, highest parental involvement, and the happiest children are shown to come from these two-parent solutions.

Children of divorce must be protected by revising current laws. Solid data proves that the Best Interest of the Child is served when there is "frequent and continuing contact with both parents."

There are other areas of domestic law that need to be addressed if we are to serve the best interest of our children:

Create low conflict divorce with statewide adoption of compulsory divorce mediation. Be sure judges accept that frequent and continuing contact with both parents is the essence of a child's best interest.

Standardize divorce education classes that specifically address parental behavior that is detrimental to children.

Replace inflammatory legal language such as defendant, complaint, and visitation.

Enforce access violations aggressively with swift, punitive measures. Access denial by a custodial parent should be grounds for change of custody.

Maximize financial child support by including the incomes of both parents and require both parents to work.

Prosecute those who file false allegations of abuse or domestic violence.

	Strengthen "move away" laws to ensure children can maintain relationships with both parents and grandparents.

	One father is more than a hundred Schoolmasters. ~George Herbert "The single biggest social problem in our society may be the growing absence of fathers from their children's homes, because it contributes to so many other social problems." -- Former President Bill Clinton The single biggest barrier that prevents fit fathers from spending more time with their children is a family court order, not a lack of desire. ~ Don Bjorn Jagan

The Best Parent is BOTH Parents!

Fathers FOR Virginia is an affiliate of American Coalition for Fathers and Children (ACFC).