Chicago, Illinois (MMD Newswire) May 23, 2012 -- Divorce is far from uncommon in the United States, and yet there is surprisingly little uniformity when it comes to the laws and regulations that govern divorce. That is the finding of a new report from FOX Business, which notes that, while a divorce can often be an emotionally trying time in a person's life, the tumult of a divorce can be compounded by the legal potholes that must be navigated. The article has won the attention of many advocates for more fair and uniform divorce laws, including members of the father's rights movement, such as Joel Bernheim.
The FOX report notes that all aspects of divorce law can be variable, and what applies to a pending divorce in one state may be very different in the next. Everything from alimony to custody to distribution of assets is subject to legal regulation, but those regulations are never uniform. For this reason, FOX concludes, the location in which a couple chooses to file for divorce is highly important--and so is knowing the divorce laws that govern that particular area.
Joel Bernheim, an advocate on behalf of the father's rights movement, says the article drives home just how vital it is to make divorce laws more consistent, particularly when it comes to major issues such as the custody of children. In a statement to the press, Joel Bernheim responds to the FOX article. "Given the high rate of divorce across the U.S. for the last several years, the continued lack of focus on creation of uniform legislation is unacceptable," he says.
But for Bernheim, the state of divorce law is not just bad for fathers, but rather, it is harmful to all parties. "This article speaks to fathers and mothers who have been and continue to be impacted by our antiquated judicial system," he observes.
Bernheim has long advocated on behalf of the father's rights movement, which seeks to ensure that custody disputes are handled as fairly as possible, without the historical bias in favor of mothers. The movement is not anti-mother at all, but is simply invested in preserving the rights of fathers. Bernheim notes that fathers are favored in some states more than in others, another reason to seek more uniform divorce and custody laws throughout the country.
Meanwhile, the FOX report makes it clear that custody disputes are not the only instances of unevenness in divorce laws. Child support laws, too, can vary greatly from state to state. In addition, there are highly variable laws when it comes to who pays legal fees; whether or not a parent can be legally coerced into paying for college tuition; and more.
ABOUT:
Joel Bernheim is a professional within the asset receivables management industry, and currently serves as Executive Vice-President of Operations at the Illinois Company Asset Recovery Solutions, LLC. He is also an outspoken activist and philanthropist, with much of his activism centered on the father's rights movement. His support of this movement stems from his own experiences as a single father.