A Michigan man says he and his ex-wife did not abuse their 2-year-old daughter, who police discovered unconscious at her mother's home. He and his ex-wife had their parental rights temporarily stripped following the incident, but the man says he is dedicated to ensuring he does not lose permanent custody of his other daughter. Though he is listed as the younger girl's legal parent, he claims that he is only the biological father of her 4-year-old sister.
The importance of responsible parenting for divorced fathers
Being a parent can be hard regardless of one's marital status, but it is often particularly difficult for people who have gone through the breakup of a marriage. For Michigan parents trying to balance their careers, newly single social lives, and the needs of their children, it can be easy to neglect certain aspects of a child's care after divorce.
Experts say courts improperly handle custody disputes
Michigan family courts do not make child custody decisions based on a strict set of rules, allowing judges to exercise discretion regarding whether divorcing spouses are fit parents. This system is designed to allow flexibility and to represent the best interests of the children at the center of child custody disputes, but some experts are concerned that family court judges are failing to properly respond to high-conflict cases.
Michigan County to target noncustodial parents' cars
Michigan's Ottawa County has collected $17,000 with a program aimed at pushing noncustodial parents to make timely child support payments by targeting their vehicles, an initiative that has attracted the attention of other Michigan communities seeking ways to deal with their own delinquency issues. Deputies with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department have traveled to at least three other counties to demonstrate the program, which they believe has convinced officials in those areas to adopt similar methods as an alternative to jail time for noncustodial parents who fail to pay child support.
