Our Time is Now (Fathers): 2010

Agnostic dad appeals child custody decision based on religion

On August 6, 2008, PCDCS filed its pre-dispositional report with the trial court, which indicated under the sub-heading "Parental History" that "paternity has not yet been established for [Father]." (Appellant's App. p. 31). The report later indicated, however, that J.O.'s family formerly "consisted of [J.O.] and his parents. The father is currently in Lake County Jail . . . ." (Appellant's App. p. 33). Nevertheless, Father was not made a party to the CHINS proceedings, he was not offered and/or referred for reunification services, he was not provided with a copy of the pre-dispositional report, and he was never advised that a dispositional hearing had been set for August 19, 2008.

Santa Ana - A panel of California appellate court justices today ruled that a 2-year-old girl at the center of a child custody battle between a south Orange County foster mother and the girl's birth father in Ohio should stay in California as the case is sorted out.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The state Court of Appeals has ruled the same-sex partner of an adoptive mother can't seek custody of the couple's child but may request visitation.

A divided court decided Wednesday that New Mexico laws provide no legal right for a Santa Fe-area woman to bring a lawsuit asking for custody of the child, who was adopted by her partner during their 15-year relationship.

The court's majority said the state's custody law applies to biological or adoptive parents, and third parties - such as the unmarried partner of an adoptive parent - can't seek child custody unless the parent is unfit.

Judge Michael E. Vigil dissented, saying a partner should be able to seek custody when a parent-child bond has formed.

Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 02:15 PM

A recent court order filed on Monday mandates that a Vermont court decision to give custody of 7-year-old girl to one parent of a separated lesbian couple be enforceable in Virginia.

In 2002, Isabella Miller-Jenkins was born to Janet Jenkins and Lisa Miller through artificial insemination in Vermont. In 2003, when the couple split, custody of the child was given to Miller, who then moved to Virginia and renounced homosexuality, the News and Advance reports.

Later that year, Vermont's supreme court granted custody of the child to Jenkins, after it was revealed that Miller had denied visitation rights and had stopped speaking to attorneys.

Monday's court order verifies that the Vermont court decision is enforceable in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jenkins' attorney, Rebecca Glenburg of the Virginia American Civil Liberties Union, told the news source, "We expect Virginia law enforcement to take whatever actions they can to locate the child and make sure the custody order is complied with."

Currently, the whereabouts of Miller and the child are unknown.

According to the Center for Children's Justice, a former spouse is most frequently the greatest obstacle for contact with a child in custody cases.

How the tides have turn, now that we are lesbians and Gays as co parents,, it was only a matter of time before one of these folks would be in our shoes (fathers) Now this lady is finding out that mothers do to fathers when they lose in court. I can only wonder how long it will be for they find Ms Miller and her child. Once found I can bet that the child won't be turn over to Ms Jenkins ASAP. There will be more hearings for her in the future.

I can also bet that Ms Miller will claim she ran to protect the child for a sick Lesbian, which she used to be one.. I see a theme here, do you.