Messages

Done.

Minicoopsmom

http://www.realfamilylaw.com/ No Attorney is Cheap, but here's a trustworthy one. Good luck.

For those who already cannot afford the child support obligation set by the state, you need to act NOW!

A bill has recently been introduced to the House Judiciary committee that advocates raising your child support obligation.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2315&year=2007

Instead of accountability, equal DOCUMENTED financial contributions of BOTH
parents, without a study of the TRUE costs of raising a child, and without
an increase in salary or consideration of subsequent children and other family members..without any research, reasoning, or rationale, a bill has been presented with no other motive but to increase child support transfer
payments of child support payors across the board.

Here's what you can do:

Click on the names of the following representatives and tell them what you think about having to pay MORE child support.

Send them an email, a fax AND give them a phone call. You must contact each one of these senators and tell them how you feel about having your child support
increased.

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/Rodne

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/Anderson

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/lantz

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/goodman

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/warnick

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/ahern

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/flannigan

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/kirby

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/moeller

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/pedersen

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/ross

http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/williams

I'll be sending a message that they should vote NO on HB2315 ~ !!

While you are at it, tell them you DO support Senator Moeller's efforts with HB1009. He's a real hero and a champion for convening a group to study the child
support tables, HB1009 has been thoughtfully considered and will provide an answer to what it really costs to raise a child and how subsequent families and children, and how residential time spent should decrease the payor's child sport burden. And we all know that more time with the kids is more valuable
than throwing money at a problem.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/Summary.aspx?bill=1009&year=2007

Then make sure you are signed up for our newsletter
http://www.washingtonsharedparenting.com/lists/

We can keep you posted about next steps and other actions you can take to ensure yourself a voice in the Legislature and in Family Court.

Another resource to refer to is The Other Parent
http://www.toprights.org

You'll find news about shared parenting in WA State, and another opportunity to make your voice heard in Olympia. The Other Parent and washingtonsharedparenting.com are great places to get involved for those who are feeling helpless and trapped in the system. And they need you too!

The Other Parent was founded on the belief that children need both parents. We believe, in the absence of abuse or neglect, both parents have an equal right to legal and physical joint custody of their child. We also believe that both men and women should be held to the same financial obligation for care of their child. We have dedicated ourselves to serving the best interests of all children by advocating equality and accountability in the family court system.
   
   

http://www.washingtonsharedparenting.com

Here's another:


http://965jackfm.com/pages/166956.php

It's the first link: The Other Parent - Greg Howe & Elisa Cooper

There is a woman, Lisa Scott [email protected]
who is also an advocate for family law reform
http://www.tabs.org/directory.html
I haven't seen any of her cases but I work with her on reforms.

We've used Michael Gallagher....a few years ago. He's a bit of an "ambulance chaser" and a bulldog. He did well by us, he got the PP fixed so that BB might be able to be held in contempt, he got her with 2500.00 over billed daycare (that we figured out and brought up ourselves) but we were also fined $750 for asking for a modification w/out DH taking "anger management classes" as ordered by the original judge.

Stay away from Marie White, she's in Burien, Mike went up against her and she's a real...b and a father hater.

There is also another atty. down  in Olympia or Tacoma that I'll have to come back and post about, I don't have his info handy right now.

Good luck!

We find out at the last minute because they'd rather we not know. The more fathers and families that know, the more letters and faxes and emails they will get in support...and also the more people who will come testify in Olympia.

Last year the Chair of the committee said he would not pass the bill w/out 100% of the committee voting for it. I always thought that a majority should be good enough? Although we didn't know, the domestic violence lobby has been informed about it and they oppose it (no surprise there) and they will be there in force to testify as well. The judicial lobby and the bar association are against this as well, it takes money out of divorce court.

Our goal now is to get this out of committee and up for vote on the floor. Its said that the bill has wide support in the house.

I am the same poster on the civil rights council. :)

Thanks for writing! I hope to be back here posting again for similar actions for a house bill and next steps soon.

Here's a form letter, please personalize it with your own story:

[Your Name]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]
(DATE)
[Recipient Name]
[Title]
Dear [Recipient Name]:
The time has come to vote on SB5234 and encourage shared parental responsibility in child custody arrangements. This bill holds tremendous opportunity to do what is right to serve children -- and to help families and parents retain their rights.
Shared parenting reduces divorce, lessens teen pregnancy, decreases poverty, limits high school drop outs, and helps allay numerous other social ills, as well as, seriously cutting the cost of divorce and child custody, which in turn, saves money for children and families.
States across the nation are working toward similar legislation of this nature. All current studies are demonstrating the best interests of the children are to have equal access with both parents.
Shared parenting works; children need both parents.

Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,

A bill on shared parenting is under consideration, yet again, in the Human Services and Corrections Committee in the legislature in Washington state.

I posted about this last year...and the bill was held up in committee. Now its up for a vote again, let's not let this committee hold this bill hostage!

What you can do:

The following are the 1st steps that we can all take to let people know that we support shared parenting.

We have till Friday at 8 am to make an impact!

1) Pick up your telephone and call each and every one of the senators on the list below and also contact the committee hot line. Call their phone numbers, fax them and then click on the links by their names to send them an email.

If they ask you if you are a constituent, you can say, "that's not the issue here, the point is that this bill should have been passed out of committee last year and needs to be moved onto the floor for a vote by ALL the legislature this year! This committee must take my comments and put this bill to a vote NOW!"

I've attached a form letter here that you can copy and add your own experience and comments to if you choose.

Human Services & Corrections Committee - Telephone: 1-800-562-6000 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/HSC

James Hargrove - Chair (D) (360) 786-7646 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/hargrove

Debbie Regala - Vice Chair (D) (360) 786-7652 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/regala

Val Stevens - Ranking Minority Member (R) (360) 786-7676 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/stevens

Dale Brandland (R) (360) 786-7682 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/brandland

 Mike Carrell (bill co-sponsor and major supporter, tell this senator THANKS!!) (R) (360) 786-7654 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/carrell

Chris Marr (D) (360) 786-7610 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/marr

Rosemary McAuliffe (D) (360) 786-7600 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/mcauliffe

THEN contact your friends and family and ask them to do the same!

The more calls, faxes and emails they get, the better they will hear our voices and understand the benefits shared parenting offers families in Washington state (and the less chance that they will table this bill and not vote on it again this year.)!

Senate Bill 5234 is being heard on January 26 in Olympia at 8AM, in the Cherberg Senate Building. You can come to the capital and sit in the audience or you may choose to testify to tell your story to the legislators on how shared parenting could impact your family.

A companion bill in the house has yet to be introduced but is expected as early as next week, once that ball is in play, I will have you do the exact same steps for the House bill, to a different committee.

Shared Parenting Works � Children Need Both Parents!

In Solidarity,
Minicoopsmom

Do what you can to make this happen, write, call, you name it. If you want to testify its this Thursday in Olympia. Send me a message and I'll fill you in.