Bill would safeguard child custody rights

[unhappycamper]

Bill would safeguard child custody rights
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday May 30, 2008 16:50:39 EDT

A controversial measure that would protect deployed service members from losing custody of their children because of their military service was approved by the House in a pile of veterans-related bills passed in a pre-Memorial Day rush.

The bill, HR 6048, is a response to several cases in which state courts changed service members’ child custody arrangements, sometimes without notice, while the members were deployed.

“Many cases have come to light where service members who have been deployed have had their military service used against them in custody hearings,” said Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, the chief sponsor of the bill, which would amend legal protections in the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act.

“Recently, my office learned about a service member who, during her custody proceeding, was told by a judge that the mere possibility of her deployment weighed against the best interests of the child in denying her custody,” Turner said.

“Much is asked of our service members, and mobilization can disrupt and strain relationships at home,” he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/airforce_vabills_053008p/

[kdmorris]

1. Long overdue

Once, long ago, my brother and his wife were having problems, but he refused to even think about divorce because he might lose his three sons. In his case, it worked out, since he went into the reserves when he got out of the active military and they managed to repair their relationship.

But, if we are going to ask these people to go fight for our military and they have no choice in being deployed, it is so wrong to punish them for doing what is asked of them.