Well my boyfriend, Steve is one of the very few “real” fathers out there that cares for his son more than anything in this world and never misses a visit, even though it is over an hour drive each way to go get him and take him back. He has ALWAYS made ALL his support payments without one complaint, because that is his son, his responsibility. He shares “joint custody” with his son’s mother, which brings me to the reason for this page…

The definition of “joint custody” per Section 30-3-151 of the Code of Alabama "(1) JOINT CUSTODY. Joint legal custody and joint physical custody. (2) JOINT LEGAL CUSTODY. Both parents have equal rights and responsibilities for major decisions concerning the child, including, but not limited to, the education of the child, health care, and religious training. The court may designate one parent to have sole power to make certain decisions while both parents retain equal rights and responsibilities for other decisions. (3) JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY. Physical custody is shared by the parents in a way that assures the child frequent and substantial contact with each parent. Joint physical custody does not necessarily mean physical custody of equal durations of time"

Well having “joint custody” and regular visitations only allows him visits every other weekend, Father’s Day, and all major holidays on the odd years; which if you do the math on this is only sixty two days in the odd years and fifty two days in the even years, and when his son reaches school age he then is allowed another two weeks out of each summer month. Not to mention any extra days the mother might “allow”, but it is only if she “allows” it.

How is this right?

Even though all of this is “court ordered” if she fails to let him have his son on his rightful days of visitation, she is in contempt, but the law does not enforce it. He has to take her back to court each and every time, but she is not penalized,until there is several occurrences, but he is because of the expense this takes, not only with money and his time, but with time he misses with his son. So basically “joint custody” means nothing to the non-custodial parent who has to abide by all the rules just to get the few days a year to see the one who is the most important person in his life.

How is this right?

The mother denied Steve this past weekend of his visit, and even after calling the sheriff, there wasn’t anything that could be done. The tears and the screams for “daddy” were so heart wrenching. For the first time in Steve’s life he felt completely helpless. The tears came down his face the whole drive home, his heart aching more and more with each passing mile, while the visions of the look on his son’s face and the echoes of his cries of “daddy” with his arms reaching out for him flashed over and over in his mind.

How is this right?

She, the mother, now threatens that he will be sitting in an empty driveway, when he goes to pick up his son on Thanksgiving because she is taking their son out of state, and that he will not have him for the week for Christmas he is entitled to in this “court order”. If she goes through with this threat there is nothing that Steve can do, but feel hopeless that the law has failed him of the right to be the father he so desperately wants to be. But if he would not comply to the “court order" with his responsibilities the law would have him thrown in jail.

How is this right?

He suffers every day that he is away from his son, there isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t think of him, and miss him. His heart is torn each and every time he takes him home to the mother when his son clings to his daddy with cries and screams of, “ I don’t want to see my mommy!"

How is this right?

The laws for the non-custodial parents is not right, the way that the days with each parent is divided is unethical. How can sixty-two days to three hundred and five days be a fair and equal split? How can you be in contempt of a “court order” and yet nothing happen? We need your help. We want your help in changing this so-called “fair” law of “joint custody” and the rights of “joint custody”. Most of all TYLER NEEDS YOUR HELP in getting equal time with his daddy that he so desperately wants and rightfully deserves!

The love between this father and son has inspired me to try and change the laws of the non-custodial parent in “joint custody” cases. If you can offer your advice, support, and help with this same love that I’m sure is shared by so many other children and parents. Please E-mail us at...