One of my favorite TV programs for the last 10 years is Discovery channel's Myth busters. Each week the program focuses on confirming or debunking some wives tale, manufactures claim or urban myth by performing a series of creative test. Some of the testing was simply funny when watching poor old Buster the crash dummy get beat up badly but he always managed to survive for another episode. That said, many of the shows had a very practical intent such as determining product safety, consumer awareness and economic honesty. Well, for the past 6 months I have grown concerned about an urban myth that seems to have penetrated the legal profession, specifically the field of Fathers Rights. So, I have decided to debunk a few of these myths that are highly misleading and seem to be primarily present during internet searches for Fathers rights related legal assistance and information.
Recently, I checked Google analytics for search terms being used to find Fathers Rights information and services. The following are the exact search terms as reported by Google:
"pro bono Fathers Rights lawyers, free legal help for dads, pro bono child support lawyers for fathers, free child custody lawyers for fathers, father's rights attorney pro bono, free father's rights advocates, pro bono lawyers for father's rights, free legal help for fathers, free legal advice for father's rights, free legal aid for men, free attorneys for dads."
In almost EVERY search there was the use of the terms "pro bono" and/or "free". Listen, I don't begrudge individuals for looking for FREE services/info. I love getting stuff for free. Who doesn't? When someone says FREE my eyes and ears stand at attention! I download free apps from google play store almost daily. I utilize free shopping coupons, free points for using a certain credit card, buy 1 take 1 and the list goes on. However, I have learned that not everything that claims to be FREE really is free. In fact not only are some of the offers not free they will actually cost you money. Additionally, free services, products, apps ect. ect...often are not able to perform as they claim. Wherefore, after downloading a free app I usually delete it within minutes when I discover it's not really free or even helpful. This has become especially true of internet products. So, let's begin by debunking the first myth:
Is there such a thing as a pro bono attorney? In 28 years of Fathers Rights legal advocacy I have NEVER met a single pro bono family law or free Fathers right attorney. Never! Truth is: Pro-bono attorneys don't exist in family law. I am aware of a few women's groups that provide free legal assistance to women in domestic violence cases but I am not aware of any such groups that assist Fathers. I also know that the governmental child support agencies in all states offer free legal services to Mothers but NOT to Fathers. It has been my observation that Pro-bono attorneys are usually limited to criminal law and civil rights cases but definitely not family law. I should also add that I visited a number of so called free and pro bono websites but after close examination none of them were free or pro bono. Even worse, none provided ANY Fathers Rights information at all. They were mostly attorney referral services that used search terms like Fathers Rights, free, pro bono as bait words to get visitors to their respective sites. However, to be fair, if you know of a free pro bono attorney that handles Fathers rights family law cases please forward me the contact information and I will be glad to post it for free on this website. The truth is: if Fathers want legal help they will have to pay!
The second myth is: free family law legal help for Fathers. Again I am not aware of any free legal aid clinic, service or self-help center that provides substantial and meaningful legal assistance to Fathers. Most of the aforementioned only offer very basic services such as providing family law forms, mediation information, filing instructions, court guidelines, process service requirements and answer simple legal procedural questions. Most county courts throughout America house such legal aid offices. In some States the county bar associations sponsor a legal aid clinic once a month for low income individuals. Again these services are VERY basic and were never designed to navigate a litigant through the numerous and often complex legal proceedings of a Fathers Rights family court case. (Read Free Reports #2 & #5 - The Truth about Family Law and Attorneys and How to Use On-Line Legal Information and Services)
Unlike the TV program Myth busters I cannot pinpoint exactly who or what is responsible for the creation of these myths. Nevertheless I now consider these two myths debunked! So now we get to the real reason for this article. If you are Father who is experiencing family law legal problems and are searching for information and guidance let me offer this advice. What you need now more than anything else is correct and legally useful information that will help you understand the problems you are facing and how to correct them. You will also need someone that can navigate you through the family court system. You need the truth! The truth about your Ex, your children, your attorney, the court, the Judge, the mediator, guardian ad litem, custody evaluator, child support enforcement, and the entire family law legal system. Don't worry about who will be your attorney or who will help you with court paperwork. Those are easily acquired services once you have the right information. More important is your understanding of the Family court system.
Please consider that Family law cases stay open until there are no issues of children, money, property or other related issues. In other words, your search for information is not just about your current legal problem. It's not just about "NOW". It's about the future! This likely will not be the last time you experience a family law problem with your ex. Remember, Family law works much differently than other forms of civil and criminal law. Family court decisions are not just based on code sections, case laws and court rules. Family law cases are VERY subjectively determined by judges, mediators, guardian ad litem's, custody evaluators, parenting coordinators, special masters and special attorneys appointed to represent the minor children. You must learn how to communicate with these professionals and how to increase your chances of a favorable outcome. In short, you must take the time to learn how the family court system works. If not, no attorney or other legal professional can ever help you. So, take the time to learn. You can be sure your EX has!
Finally, if you find yourself in a Fathers Rights legal dilemma and would like for someone to help and guide you step by step just let me know and I will be glad to assist you. Also, be sure to check out our Advocate Plans at www.fathers-rights-california.com. They are designed to guide you step by step through your family law case. If you have questions about the Advocate Plans just let me know and I will be glad to respond. Just e-mail me at: law4dad@gmail.com.
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