by Dossie M Terrell

Created on: October 24, 2008   Last Updated: May 14, 2012

This is a complex question and deserves of serious debate. Under the right circumstances and in the best interest of the child, the father most definitely should have equal custody rights to their children. But there are many variables to consider before responding categorically in the affirmative.  This site offers a legal definition of equal custody of children and other legal ramifications of custody rulings.

When couples decide they can no longer live together as husband and wife; they should consider carefully the impact of that decision on their children. The dissolution of their marriage should be handled in a way that inflicts the least amount of psychological and emotional damage on their children. Most  loving and caring parents do that, but there are some who become so absorbed in their desire for revenge, or some other nonsense, they use their children as weapons. These types are not willing to take a step back and forget their anger and disappointments and put the children first.

There are many documented cases where fathers walk away when the goings get tough and leave the responsibility of supporting and rearing their children to their wives. After a period of time, usually when the children are older, these fathers often reappear and want to resume their role as fathers as though nothing happened. Many never paid child support or provided support during their absence. Of course, their wives will usually have found someone else to share their lives or they will be so steeped in bitterness that they want no part of that life they put behind them. But what about the children who are caught in this quagmire?

There are many support groups for these deadbeat fathers who aid them in their efforts to seek re-entry into their children lives and do not seem to care how disruptive this may be to the household of the children. Often, courts award these fathers equal custody rights to children about whom they know nothing. Because of these thoughtless rulings, many children become victims of the juvenile justice system by committing senseless crimes. I say "victims" because they are defenseless and strike out in the only way they know how, which is mostly against the system that offered them no voice. There should be legislation to change this; the mental and emotional health of the children should be the focus and not the rights of these wayward fathers or mothers. This site talks about custody  and

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