Parents Rights Action in motion across the US

Class Action Lawsuit Filed

We've often discussed the corrosive effects of federal incentive and reimbursement payment on the integrity of family law systems...here's one more example...

A North Carolina law firm filed suit Monday, August 25 against the state's Department of Health and Human Services, the state Child Suppport Enforcement Agency and various private companies and attorneys representing these agencies. The suit alleges the state incorrectly collected child support from individuals whose parental rights had been terminated. The case was filed as a class action. If you have a child support order from North Carolina and your parental rights were terminated, but the collection order remained in effect, let us know and we'll pass your information along.

North Carolina Organizational Meeting

Next Wednesday evening you are invited to attend an organizational meeting of the newly forming North Carolina Family Law Reform group in Charlotte. The meeting will take place from 7:00 - 8:45 pm at the South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Rd., NC 28277. This purpose of the meeting is to bring together individuals who are interested in approaching family law reform by working the political process. Drop us an email and let us know if you can make it. If you can't make the meeting but want to be involved let us know and will keep you informed of future activity.

Bill Limiting Incarceration for Non-Payment of Support Introduced

Recently Ohio State Rep. Ted Celeste introduced a bill, supported by Ohio's Director of Corrections requiring judges to limit use of incarceration for parents in arrears on child support. Click here to read about this development. The Spring edition of "The Liberator" carried several stories on 'debtors prisons' after Sean Levert's death in an Ohio prison earlier this year. Levert was sentenced to 22 months in prison and died one week after beginning his sentence. He left behind six children. While this is a small step in the right direction, the solution remains implementation of Shared Parenting statutes providing both parents the opportunity to remain fully engaged with their children.

The Liberator is your 16 page quarterly mailed to ACFC members and over 8,000 elected officials at the state and federal level. Your ACFC membership includes a one year subscription to The Liberator. We know the paper is being read, we are being contacted by legislators from around the nation interested in family law reform. Please support this effort by clicking here to become a member of ACFC.

New Mexico Judges to Receive 'The Liberator'

Thanks to member anonymous, this fall New Mexico family court judges will begin receiving 'The Liberator.' This increases to five the number of states where judges receive the paper. Email ACFC for more information on getting the paper to your state court judges.

West Virginia

Men and Women Against Discrimination (http://www.mawadwv.org/) are at it again. They have filed suit in state court seeking injunctive relief with respect to the lack of service provision for men and boys seeking to escape domestic violence.

MAWAD has also sponsored a new radio ad in which a family court judge testifies before a state legislative committee that he follows the law ZERO percent of the time in custody cases. Click here to listen.

New IRS Revenue Procedure Beneficial to Non Custodial/Residential Parents

The IRS has issued a new revenue procedure ruling allowing non-custodial and non-primary (aren't these terms offensive, I'm not a non anything to my kids) residential parents to count children not living with them as dependents for purposes of providing benefits through HSA and MSA accounts. Click for article.