| Title: | Welcome to the Non-Custodial Parents Conference | 
| Notice: | Please read 1.* before writing anything | 
| Moderator: | MIASYS::HETRICK | 
| Created: | Sun Feb 25 1990 | 
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Number of topics: | 420 | 
| Total number of notes: | 4370 | 
    Anyone catch the article in Boston Globe Magazine this weekend about 
    divorced dads and second families?
    I thought the author did a decent job of showing the complexities of
    post-divorce life. One of the statements made was that there are as
    many "decent" as "deadbeat" dads. I found this to be a step in the
    right direction but my sense is "deadbeats" are a major minority.
    His implication was it was about 50/50.
    	The economic implications of attempting to start a second family
    was well described. An attempt was made to portray how difficult it is
    to provide for a family when up to 50% of your income is court ordered
    to your previous wife. Unfortunately this is where the author started
    to paint a misleading picture.
    The judges this guy interviewed were portrayed as "fair" and humane
    and actually attempted sympathy for the difficulty in fairly dividing
    up the financial pie. NOT!!!
    The article ended with a wimper. No final observations or
    recommendations, just a fade into nothing. Another opportunity for
    public awareness misused. My opinions of course!
    Any comments?
    				Dan D
    
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 234.1 | Read Same Article | LJOHUB::KBROWN | KEN BROWN DCC/CIS DESKTOP CONSULTANT | Wed Sep 23 1992 07:04 | 20 | 
|     
    	I read the article, and had the same issues that you encountered.
    
    	There was one paragraph that I found interesting.
    
    	While studies show that divorce has a harsher economic impact on
    	mothers and children, some fathers suffer hardship, too, especially
    	in Massachusetts.  According to Diane Dodson, deputy director for
    	family-laws programs for the Woman's Legal Defense Fund, in 
    	Washington, D.C., Massachsuetts guidelines are among the most
    	generous to children in the United States.  Noncustodial parents
    	must paY 25 - 27 percent of gross income for one child, 31 t0 3
    	percent for three children..
    
    	I have been in front of one of the Judges interviewed.  And
    	although he appears to concerned about the male non custodial
    	perspective in the article, his comments and actions are
    	completely reverse when you are in his chambers.
    
    
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