Civic Engagement

Please accept my support, as too many of our children are growing up without a father in their lives, because men out there are irresponsible and don't want to be part of their lives. Don't punish those few responsible men who still want to be in their kids lives, even when a marriage hasn't survived.

Shared parenting is arguably the most important issue regarding the well-being of children across the Commonwealth. Responsible fathers should be encouraged to participate in the rearing of their children, and the decisions regarding their associations with their children should be made based on individual circumstances. This bill is a good start toward establishing state support for creating an environment that is proven to help children. Allowing responsible fathers equal time with their children will in no way limit the courts power to act accordingly, when necessary, to punish the deviants of the most important bond between people, the parent-child relationship.

Its about time.

Courts should treat both parents equally, REGARDLESS of gender. As an employer, I am not allowed to discriminate based on gender; how is it reasonable that a judge can?

Shared Parenting should be given the highest priority. Children need and deserve to have two parents, and one of those should be their father.

fathers are equally important in childrens lives,the restraining orders in this state is bogus.yes some people may need them but in lots of cases women are using them in the probate courts for the wrong reasons and all it does is hurt the children.

Dear Governor Patrick, House, Senate - I am a dedicated Father. I have sought addtional time with my children outside the court system without success. I must now spend thousands of dollars, better spent in support of my families home, on legal fees for the chance to be with my children more.

Please pass the shared parenting bill.

Thank you

Why can I only see my daughter for 48 hours every other weekend? Why can't I call my daughter 3 times a week? Why can't I see my daughter on her Birthday? Why does my daughter cry every other Sunday when I have to drop her off? Why can't I get a copy of my daughters report card? Why can't I get prints of my daughters School pictures? Why can't I be notified of a parent conference meeting?

Oh... because the Fathers who actually care have no rights!!!

Having issues with "medical" decisions affecting my children is frustrating. Two children 13 and 6 that are "medicated" to control them from exhibiting normal behaviors associated with 13 and 6 year old children. I use the time that I have with them for physical activities and getting out of the house, teaching cooking, word games, math games, art, sports, and other activities associated with a normal childhood. This in contrast to fast food 3 times a day 7 days a week, cartoons and video games all the time, and no out door activity at all. It is sad that both children are in less than healthy condition and "medicated" so they are not hyper. My experience has demonstrated that they are not hyper after challenging thinking, creativity, and physical activity. All of which they do not receive unless they are with me. "Medicated" with out my consent, against my wishes, and in violation of the court order.

equal rights for fathers. It's not a crime to be a dad. support this bill and DOR reform. Children are not paychecks as some mothers would believe.

Families must be saved. Reform divorce law, so that it equitable, humane, and compassionate. Families are the building blocks of society!

what kid that has two loving caring parents wouldn't want TWO loving parents in their lives? not one parent and one "visitor"

I feel this is right

Please take action and count my vote to support shared parenting.

I strongly support the shared parenting bill.

In my particular case, a GAL report ordered by Judge Spencer Kagan, at considerable cost to me, recommended joint physical custody of our 2 young children. By an unfortunate sequence of events the case was reassigned to Judge Robert Langlois. Judge Langlois declared in court "there will be no ruling for shared custody in my court". He did so without having read the GAL report and with very little knowledge of the case that he had just been assigned. He simply did not support shared parenting.

The courts belong to the citizens of the Commonwealth, not to the Judges. A Law supporting shared custody will prevent such miscarriages of justice in the future.

So many devoted fathers are being deprived of their right to be good fathers and a regular and consistent presence in their children's day to day lives as a result of family courts interpreting laws with a 50 year old lens. Times have changed. In most familes, both the ...

please help- good fathers are currently being denied a relationship with their children-- and the children are suffering as a result- current laws are in favor of mothers-- and not all mothers are able to care for their children properly--but if they have custody- then the children are at risk for suffering neglect-- while fathers struggle for visitation and custody

I support this issue.In the words of moses it would take more than a man to bring fairness to fathers,it would take the power of GOD.Heres hoping my son will never be put through the hell the courts have put me through.

This is long overdue. As a stepmother of five and mother of two, I am all for helping but the judges need to look at both sides and not always side with the mother. Believe me they are very capable of lying and hiding there assets. There needs to be some equality......

I am a father , my children have suffered for years because of the court systems. I beleive I should be allowed to be a father.

Jargon about preserving the best interests of children, and the complicated legal industry that claims to abide by this principle, have served only to perpetuate a financially and emotionally expensive system. Divorce lawyers have benefited; children have suffered.

I strongly support shared parenting and more fairness in child support.

Yes, I'm strongly for Shared Parenting.

PLEASE PASS THE SHARED PARENTING BILL

Please support shared parenting. Children need both parents!!

I support shared parenting because I'm currently living as a non custodial parent who loves and cares about his children. Share parenting takes into account the importance of both parents in a child's life, and both parents should have equal rights and time to participate in the lives of their children. Under the current laws, you get to make a mortgage payment towards the financial support of your children, and in exchange you get the right watch them grow up from the curbside of the street.

Long overdue...we like to blame crime and issues in our society on the break up of the family and lack of fathers involvement, yet we consistently deny dad's involvement in their childrens's lives. I think this is a no brainer!

A father should not be discriminated against because he is a male. What we have learned is that here in Massachusetts the only one's rights that are be protected is the mother's. She doesn't have to prove anything. The system does not care about the welfare of the child. In our situation, the unwed father wants very much to be a dad but cannot because the mother does not want him to be. The mother breaks all the rules and its the father who has to spend hours and money needlessly trying to protect his child and also to be known to her. Where is the justice? This teenage father no longer can participate in a support program with his daughter because the mother refuses to allow him visits during the hours that this program is available. This teenage mother has refused joint counseling, as well as any counseling, because her mother will not allow it. Is there anyone out there that can help? I could go on and on; however, I know that our situation is not unique. There is so much ...

Yes, I am definitely in favor of "Shared Parenting". I am currently going through a divorce. My wife has been pushing for a divorce for years. I have sustained her abusive ways for a very long time for the sake of the children and prioritizing their needs ahead of mine. I supported her Architectural career and raised our two beautiful children Alec and Jordan Brooke for the past decade. She is filing for full custody. This is so unfair. She has been all about her career and I have been the dedicated househusband and now I'm supposed to be content with visitation. Get Real! Where are my rights? She is from former East Germany, which was a communist country and was permitted to stay in America as long as I agreed to marry her. I granted her and her mother’s wishes and now almost fifteen years later have been kicked out of my own home and stripped of the children that I have raised. Am I still living in a free democratic society or former East Germany? The children and I have a great ...

Long overdue.

This is for the future of our children. SHARED PARENTING !!!

This is important for good law-abiding fathers who deserve equal time with their children. What about the children? Don't they deserve to have both parents equally in their lives?

i AM FOR SHARED PARENTING AFTER BEING BROUGHT UP IN A HOME WHERE IT WAS HELPFUL FOR ME MORE THAN IT WASN'T. I do not condone divorce unless abuse is in the nature of "working things out." I believe children grow up healthier and happier when both parents are given EQUAL OPPORTUNITY to commit to the raising of their flesh and blood. Men love their kids just as much as women do, and yet, even me being a female, I have noticed that men aren't perceived serious NURTURERS. When in fact they are not just financial providers, but dedicated family men who want the best for their children just as much as Mothers. My boyfriend has been in a huge battle to get his say in court for the rights he holds being his son's father. Men are not just sperm donors or persons to be financially abused in their very society they have to live in. It's time, Mr. Patrick, that Fathers are FINALLY given their ACTUAL, RAW, and EQUAL say in court and not automatically be arrested if they are unemployed or ...

Fathers need this law for equal rights to father their children - mothers have the control and many abuse it - children need their fathers! This will help stop children being put in the middle of the divorce - visitation being used as a bargaining chip - Fathers end up paying more in support in order to get more time with their children - it is wrong it must stop!

I am completely in favor of a presumption of shared parenting. Every person who works full time in the family court system knows that the system is currently biased against fathers. A certain per centage of the restraining orders issues each year are issued for false reasons to gain advantage over fathers even though there is no threat to any party. Of course we need strong protections for the victims of domestic violence but because lawyers for mothers have nothing to lose and ecause judges never want to be held responsible for the one case that goes badly, many good decent fathers who either don't want to be divorced or who simply want to share the care of the children are unpunished. I went through this personally 12 years ago and I can tell you that there is almost nothing worse than being suspected of a possible crime that you did not commit and then not have any method to present any counter evidence. Fortunately my ex-wife and I were able swiftly to rebuild a system of ...