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California Limits Spousal Support
By Rita Fuerst Adams, National Executive Director,
Fathers and Families
California
Governor Jerry Brown has signed legislation introduced by Assembly
member Toni Atkins, (D-San Diego) that prevents victims from being
forced to pay spousal support to ex-husbands or wives who are convicted
of violent crime against them. Assembly Bill 1522
was inspired by the case of a San Diego-area woman, Crystal Harris, who
was ordered to pay her former husband monthly spousal support during
the pendency of his criminal trial. After he was convicted and sentenced
to six years, Harris was ordered to pay a portion of his legal fees.
San
Diego County District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis announced the
legislation earlier this year and testified before the California Senate
Judiciary Committee in support of it.
Current California law already prevents spousal support in cases of
attempted murder or soliciting the murder of a spouse. AB 1522 adds
violent abuse felonies to the list of convictions that disqualify a
person from obtaining financial benefits from their ex-spouse in a
divorce proceeding.
While
Judges in California have had the discretion to deny spousal support or
alimony in cases of felony offenses, this new law makes it mandatory in
cases where the spousal support would have been paid by the injured
party. The language is gender neutral. Fathers and Families hopes the
implementation is also gender neutral.
According
to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, more than 56 percent of
divorce lawyers across the United States report an increase in mothers
paying child support to fathers in the last three year and 47 percent
note a rise in the number of women making monthly alimony payments to
their ex-husbands. The study did not report on how much of an increase
there has been in cases of mothers paying child support or the actual
rise in women paying alimony.
Crystal
Harris’ case brought national attention to the loophole in the law. “I
never want to think of another rape victim having to go through the
re-victimization process that I went through,” Harris said.
The
bill garnered strong bi-partisan legislative support from Senators Joel
Anderson, R-El Cajon; Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego; Juan Vargas, D-San
Diego; and Mark Wyland, R-Carlsbad; and Assembly members Marty Block, D-
Lemon Grove; Ben Hueso, D-Chula Vista; Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad;
Kevin Jeffries, R- Murrieta; Brian Jones, R-Santee; Jeff Miller,
R-Orange; and Holly Mitchell, D-Culver City.
Volunteer to Work on Child Support Guidelines
By Rita Fuerst Adams,
National Executive Director,
Fathers and Families
Federal law
requires that states review their child support guidelines every four
years. This year at least five states have or are currently reviewing
and revising child support guidelines. The states Fathers and Families
knows about and has reported about are: Indiana, Massachusetts,
Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In
our work to encourage our members to voice their opinions and
experiences about the child support guidelines, we have found that
Fathers and Families is responsible for the majority of the responses
these states have received and are receiving. Fathers and others
interested in the child support guidelines learned about the reviews
through our e-newsletter or someone reposting our e-newsletter.
Volunteer and work with Fathers and Families to respond to the child support guidelines. Here are ways you can become involved.
First, to keep more people informed, share your e-newsletter with others and ask them to sign up to receive it.
Second,
contact your state’s child support enforcement office. Ask when the
guidelines will be reviewed and what the review will entail. Report back to me with this information.
Third, if you live in Ohio and are interested in becoming more involved in tackling the child support guidelines, please contact me.
Fourth,
Fathers and Families members have informed us that New York will be
reviewing its child support guidelines next year. If you are
interested in participating in the response, please contact me.
Fathers
and Families needs our members to work with us to find out what is
going on in different states. Changes can be “slid” by us without our
constant vigilance.
Just like at the airport, if you see something, say something |
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| In the News |
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Baby Girl Survives; Dad Not Informed
Paul Nassif Separated Paul from His Sons; Adrienne Maloof’s Charges of Abuse Unfounded
Texas Child Protective Services Unable to Protect Abused Children
Producer Confronts Mom With Son at R-Rated Movie
Welsh Men Speak Out as Victims of Domestic Violence
American Psychiatric Association Rejects Parental Alienation Syndrome/Disorder
Printer for Sale
A member recently donated a used, excellent condition Kyocera Taskalfa
550c color multifunction system with scanner, fax board, and
saddle-stitch finisher. It prints, scans, copies, and faxes.
Specs:
- Print Speed: 55 pages per minute (black and color)
- Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi (copy and print) / 8 Bit Color Depth
- Max Monthly Duty Cycle: 225,000 pages
More information, specs, and photos are available at Kyocera’s website.
Price is negotiable. The money we receive will go towards our work reforming family law. Pickup only from Manchester, NH. Please spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested. Contact Rita Fuerst Adams.
Mission
Fathers and Families improves the lives of children and strengthens
society by protecting the child’s right to the love and care of both
parents after separation or divorce. We seek better lives for children
through family court reform that establishes equal rights and
responsibilities for fathers and mothers.
Fathers and Families
PO Box
270760
Boston,
Massachusetts 02127-0760
(617)
542-9300
www.fathersandfamilies.org
info@fathersandfamilies.org
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