Parents role with child support and visitation.

Parents should be given first choice at determining child support and visitation as part of a divorce. Child support cannot  be seen as financial only. Financial support is only a token of what is needed for the upkeep and maintenance of a child. Court determined financial child support interferes with the relationship between parents and children. Court determined child support and visitation places friction between family and makes future relationships difficult to begin and maintain.

 

If the possibility exists for the family to work out responsibilities that thought should be encouraged since  the results would benefit all concern.

One can only imagine the friction when family members visitation and custody is determined by the Court and Attorney general. Imagine a family that has existed for 20 years and more having to be told how and when future family decisions should be made. At the conclusion of the relationship the court and other institution determines the most essential components of the relationship between children and parents. These are decision likely to continue to affect lives for many years.

 

I find it strange that a civilized society find it normal for parents who worship their children to be told  money amounts to pay, custody and when they are allowed to see their children all based on decisions that do not necessarily reflect the wishes of those involved. The time has come for decisions to be made outside the courts. The time has come when society is less concerned with punitive measures and recognize benefits that can be derived from decisions that are mutually acceptable to the parties involved.

 

Let us work towards giving families the opportunity to make decisions if possible and don't regulate these vital decisions. It could be the family agrees to have the mother provide for example domestic items and investments, while the father provide insurance, school supplies, out of school recreation and a combination of expense items.

 

The idea is to allow the family difficult as it may seem to formulate a plan for the support of the children. Government and courts are much too involved and too dictatorial when it comes to family matters. Government and the legal institutions should not be the first authority used to determine child support to include visitation and custody.