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Family Law
Family law is an area of the law
that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations
including, but not limited to: the nature of marriage, civil
unions, and domestic partnerships.
Issues arising during marriage, including spousal abuse,
legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child
abduction
the termination of the relationship and ancillary matters
including divorce, annulment, property settlements, alimony, and
parental responsibility orders (in the United States, child
custody and visitation, child support awards).
This list is by no means dispositive of the potential issues
that come through the family court system. In many jurisdictions
in the United States, the family courts see the most crowded
dockets. Litigants representative of all social and economic
classes are parties within the system.
For the Conflict of Laws elements dealing with transnational and
interstate issues, see marriage (conflict), divorce (conflict)
and nullity (conflict).
Fathers' Rights Movement
The fathers' rights movement is a
grouping of individuals and groups who are highly diverse in
goals, methods and political views, and who focus on a narrow
set of issues of interest to their members.[8] It is not simply
a men's movement, as women have increasingly become involved in
activities promoting fathers' rights; these women are often the
second wives of divorced fathers or other family members of men
who have had some engagement with family law.[9][1][3]
Discussion about fathers' rights issues began in the West in the
1960s as changes in law (discussed below) prompted an
examination of the legal rights and responsibilities of fathers
and parents in general.[8] During the 1970s fathers' rights
organisations such as Families Need Fathers emerged.[8] The
movement has become increasingly vocal, visible and organised,
and has played a powerful presence in family law debates.[3]
Some commentators see the rise of the movement as a 'backlash'
to increasing female power in the family and in society, and the
consequent challenge to men's traditional roles and authority.
In this view, the movement is seen as part of a 'gender war'
between the sexes. Other commentators propose a more complex
analysis that sees several interrelated trends as leading to the
growing prominence of the movement. They suggest that shifting
household demographics, including greater fragmentation of
families through the decline in marriage and rising
divorce/separation rates, have increased the fragility of men's
relationships with their children.[3][4]
Some fathers’ rights groups have been short-lived and unstable,
as members and leaders do not remain with the group after they
have been helped.[9][3] Infighting within groups has
occurred.[10]
Differences in philosophy between groups show in their
approaches to the issues they are concerned for. While Fathers 4
Justice has used demonstrations and stunts to secure public
attention, other groups have attempted to engage the political
process. The Cheltenham Group has conducted a comprehensive
survey of father's experiences, of the then members of Families
Need Fathers in 1995. Publishing their report The Emperor's New
Clothes in 1996, it remains online at Cheltenham Group website.
Some fathers' rights activists in various countries have been
accused and/or convicted of criminal activities, including
stalking[11] and harassment.[12][13][14][15][16] In addition,
Darren Mack, who sought help from a fathers' rights group and
who later killed his wife and attempted to kill a family court
judge, was found guilty and sentenced to life
imprisonment.[17][18][19][20] Glenn Sacks, a prominent fathers'
rights activist, has criticized persons he has called "the
lunatic fringe of the fathers' rights movement", who describe
the perpetrators of violent crimes against family court judges
and others as "some sort of freedom fighters."[21]
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