Legal Resources 2
Compiled for Flying Solo by
Margorie Engel, © 1994
Second of Three Files
National Center for Women
Southampton Campus
Long Island Univ.
Southampton, NY 11968
Free: 800-426-6386
National Center on Women and Family Law
799 Broadway, Rm. 402
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212)674-8200
Fax: (212)533-5104
Laurie Woods, Exec.Dir.
Litigates and provides technical assistance to legal services staff and other advocates on women’s issues in family law. Provides consultations and participates in impact litigation as co-counsel or amicus. Maintains files on custody, support, divorce, division of property, battery, and rape; other resources include a comprehensive state-by-state resource library on women’s issues in family law.
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
PO Box 8970
Univ. of Nevada
Reno, NV 89507
Phone: (702)784-6012
Fax: (702)784-6628
Louis W. McHardy, Exec.Dir.
Judges with juvenile and family court jurisdiction and others with a professional interest in the nation’s juvenile justice system. To further more effective administration of justice for young people through the improvement of juvenile and family court standards and practices.
National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association
2722 Eastlake Ave. E., Ste. 220
Seattle, WA 98102
Phone: (206)328-8588
Beth Waid, Exec.Dir.
Juvenile court judges; lawyers; child advocacy programs. Supports and maintains a network of programs designed to provide court appointed special advocates (CASAs) for abused and neglected children involved in juvenile dependency hearings. (A CASA is a specially trained citizen volunteer who advocates on behalf of the child.) Provides technical assistance to communities interested in starting programs. Also known as: National CASA Association. Publications: The Connection, quarterly. Directory, semiannual. Feedback, quarterly. Program Survey, annual. Speak Up, annual.
National Organization for Men
11 Park Pl.
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212)686-MALE
Sidney Siller, Founder & Pres.
Men and women united in efforts to promote and advance the equal rights of men in matters such as alimony, child custody, child abuse, battered husbands, and divorce. Maintains Institute for the Study of Matrimonial Laws, established as a research and education foundation for the study of the nation’s divorce, alimony, and custody and visitation laws. Offers support group; lobbies for equal rights for men; compiles statistics. Maintains 30,000 volume library of newspaper clippings on the continuing universal battle of the sexes, divorce, and custody cases. Plans to establish Men’s Library and Research Center and Men’s Legal Defense Fund. Computerized services: Membership list. Maintains divorce hot line. Also known as: National Committee for Fair Divorce and Alimony. Presently inactive.
National Organization for Women
1000 16th St. NW, Ste. 700
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202)331-0066
Fax: (202)785-8576
Patricia Ireland, Pres.
Also known as NOW. Men and women who support full equality for women in truly equal partnership with men. Seeks to end prejudice and discrimination against women in government, industry, the professions, churches, political parties, the judiciary, labor unions, education, science, medicine, law, religion, and every other field of importance in American society. Engages in lobbying and litigation.
National Women’s Law Center
1616 P St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202)328-5160
Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-Pres.
Works to guarantee equality for women under the law and to seek protection and advancement of their legal rights and issues at all levels. Areas of interest include child support enforcement, dependent care, and the family. Successful projects have included securing enforcement of state child support laws without regard to family income.
New Guidelines for New York Divorce Lawyers Ignite Acrimonious Debate
Jan Hoffman. The New York Times, November 7, 1993. New regulations to protect clients from being exploited by their divorce lawyers has sparked debate in the state of New York over whether lawyers should be held to the same consumer regulations as businesses.
New York’s Chief Judge Imposes Strict Rules for Divorce Lawyers
Jan Hoffman. The New York Times, Vol. 142, August 17, 1993, pp. A1(N), A1(L). Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye to impose strict rules to protect women in divorce cases.
New-Wave Divorce: When You’ve Got the Money
Linda Lee Small. Cosmopolitan, Vol. 208, February 1990, pp. 92(3).
No-Fault Divorce: What Went Wrong?
Westview Press, Inc.
5500 Central Ave.
Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: (303)444-3541
Fax: (303)449-3356
Allen M. Parkman. 1992. Discusses the effects of a no-fault divorce and resulting issues such as economic perspectives, laws, and matrimonial property. Also covers topics such as education, quality of life, legislative reform, and property settlements.
On Being Anulled
Patricia Bardon Cadigan. America, August 3, 1991, pp. 71(2).
The Post-Divorce Family
Andre P. Derdeyn. Children Today, Vol. 18, May-June 1989, pp. 12(3). Subtitle: Legal Practice, and the Child’s Needs for Stability. Special report: Protecting ChildrenŐs Rights.
Premarital Insurance
Julianne Malveaux. Essence,. Vol. 20, February 1990, pp. 32(2). Discusses prenuptial and cohabitation agreements.
Professionals and Their Work in the Family Divorce Court
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
2600 S. 1st St.
Springfield, IL 62794-9265
Phone: (217)789-8980
Free: 800-258-8980
Fax: (217)789-9130
Edward Gumz. 1987. Examines interaction between professionals (social workers, judges, attorneys) and how they address issues of family distress and divorce.
Putting Asunder: A History of Divorce in Western Society
Cambridge University Press
40 W. 20th St.
New York, NY 10011
Phone: (212)924-3900
Fax: (212)691-3239
Roderick Phillips. 1988. Study encompasses the Western world from the Middle Ages to the present and focuses on three interrelated issues: divorce legislation, the social history of divorce, and the relationship between divorce and marital breakdown.
Readings in Family Law: Divorce and Its Consequences
Foundation Press
615 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, NY 11590-6607
Phone: (516)832-6950
Frederica K. Lombard. 1990.
Regulating Divorce
Clarendon Press
200 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212)679-7300
Free: 800-451-7556
Fax: (212)725-2972
John Eekelaar. 1991.
Rematch: Winning Legal Battles with Your Ex
Chicago Review Press, Inc.
814 N. Franklin St.
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312)337-0747
Steven R. Lake and Ruth Duskin Feldman. 1989.
Seeking New Solutions
Steven Waldman. Newsweek, Vol. 119, May 4, 1992, pp. 49(1). Washington state requires that unmarried parents sign paternity statements that make it easier for the state to collect child support should the couple break up. Other innovative programs for collecting child support are described.
Splitting It Up
Stephen A. Newman. New York, Vol. 19, July 28, 1986, pp. 40(9). Subtitle: A User’s Guide to the
New Divorce Law.
The Suggestibility of Children’s Recollections
American Psychological Association
750 1st St. NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: (202)336-5500
Fax: (202)525-5191
John Doris. 1991. Subtitle: Implications for Eyewitness Testimony.
The Survival Manual for Women in Divorce
Quantum Press
2724 Winding Trail Place
Boulder, CO 80304
Carol Ann Wilson and Edwin Schilling III, Esq. 1990. Designed to help women get a fair divorce. Answers 150 of the most commonly asked questions regarding marital property, child custody, alimony and debt, child support, and retirement benefits. Appendices include state charts listing grounds for divorce, residency requirements, property distribution, spousal contribution in professional degrees, and alimony.
Terms of Endearment: Can More Flexible Marriage Laws Save the American Family?
Allen M. Parkman. Reason, Vol. 25, June 1993, pp. 29(5). The U.S. government could help improve the quality of family life by allowing married couples to write down marriage contracts that would meet their unique interests.
Till Annulment Do Us Part
Richard N. Ostling. Time, Vol. 142, August 16, 1993, pp. 43(1). The Vatican has expressed disapproval of the Catholic Church in the U.S. for its tendency to easily grant marriage annulments. The U.S. Catholic Church expresses little regret in liberally interpreting a 1983 canon provision to include psychological grounds for divorce such as abuse.
Till Divorce Do Us Part
Karen Bumgardner. MPLS-St. Paul Magazine, Vol. 19, June 1991, pp. 128(4). Offers legal advice for people seeking a divorce.
Undoing the Tie that Binds
U.S. News & World Report, Vol. 107, November 6, 1989, pp. 108(1). Examines regional
differences in divorce law.
Unequal Protection: Women, Children and the Elderly in Court
W. W. Norton & Co., Inc.
500 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10110
Phone: (212)354-5500
Free: 800-223-4830
Fax: (212)869-0856
Lois G. Forer. 1991.
Unfair Tactics in Matrimonial Cases
Wiley Law Publications
John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
605 3rd Ave.
New York, NY 10158-0012
Phone: (212)850-6000
Free: 800-225-5945
Lawrence A. Moskowitz. 1990.
Unilateral Divorce and the Labor-Force Participation Rate of Married Women, Revisited
Allen M. Parkman. American Economic Review, Vol. 82, June 1992, pp. 671(8). The effects of no-fault divorce on the participation of married women in the labor force were studied. Results revealed that the labor-force participation rate of married women increased as a result of unilateral divorce. A lack of compensation for the reduced future earning potential of married women at the time of the divorce was responsible for the increased participation in the work force.
United Fathers of America
595 The City Dr., Ste. 202
Orange, CA 92668
Phone: (714)385-1002
Marvin Chapman, VP
Assists individuals experiencing family disruption due to divorce. Seeks to establish equal rights for fathers with regard to child custody in divorce cases and provide the best possible environment for the children of divorce. Provides counseling and support services. Conducts educational programs. Monitors legislation pertaining to custody and divorce and disseminates information about this legislation to the public. Offers referral service.
United States Divorce Reform
PO Box 243
Kenwood, CA 95452
Phone: (707)833-2250
Divorced or remarried men and women. Purpose is to remove divorce from the courts. Declares that present divorce laws and practices are in violation of the constitutional rights of American citizens. Works nationally, through chapters or individuals, to introduce a comprehensive plan for establishment of a Department of Family Relations under the executive branch of state government in each state. This plan provides for taking divorce out of the courts; the establishment of Family Arbitration Centers in lieu of divorce courts; premarital education on family responsibilities; post-guidance and counseling, reconciliation assistance; equity and justice in dissolution of marrriages; aid in stabilizing American families.
What the New Divorce Laws are Doing to Women
Morton Hunt. Good Housekeeping, Vol. 205, July 1987, pp. 64(4).
When Professionals Divorce
Hamline University
Advanced Legal Education
1536 Hewitt Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
1991.
Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces
National Center for Health Statistics
6525 Belcrest Rd., Rm. 1064
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Phone: (301)436-8500
Covers vital statistics in each state.
Who’s Looking After the Interest of Children?
Geoffrey Cowley. Newsweek, Vol. 122, August 16, 1993, pp. 54(2). The recent child custody cases involving baby Jessica and Kimberly Mays depict the need for better laws that protect the interests of both the child and the parents. Reformers believe a birth mother should have a longer period to make up her mind about adoption proceedings.
Winning Your Divorce
Penguin Books USA, Inc.
375 Hudson St.
New York, NY 10014
Timothy J. Horgan. 1994. Subtitle: A Man’s Survival Guide. Covers such topics as choosing a lawyer, divorce mediation, negotiating, alimony and support, separation agreements, and going to trial.
A Woman’s Guide to Divorce and Decision Making
Fireside
Simon & Schuster Inc.
Simon & Schuster Bldg.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212)698-7000
Christina Robertson. 1989, first Fireside edition. Subtitle: A Supportive Workbook for Women Facing the Process of Divorce. Chapters cover emotional support, decision making, legal assistance, divorce settlement, children, money, careers, social life, and assertivenees. Includes a bibliography, and lists organizations or associations that assist divorcing women.
Women’s Action Alliance Inc. Library
370 Lexington Ave., Ste. 603
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212)532-8330
Fax: (212)779-2846
Holdings cover subjects such as child care, marriage, divorce, family, and health. Publishes information on these and related topics.
The Women’s Advocate
National Center on Women and Family Law
799 Broadway, Rm. 402
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212)674-8200
Fax: (212)533-5104
Bimonthly. Discusses topics such as domestic violence, intra-family custody, single mother’s rights, divorce, child abduction, and child and spousal support.
Women’s Law Project
125 S. 9th St., Ste. 401
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215)928-9801
Fax: (215)928-9848
Carol Tracy, Exec.Dir.
Nonprofit feminist law firm working to challenge sex discrimination in the law and in legal and social institutions through litigation, public education, research and writing, representation of women’s groups, and individual counseling. Maintains telephone counseling and referral services on women’s legal rights concerns and community education. Publications: Child Support Handbook: How You Can Obtain Child Support Orders in Philadelphia.
Women’s Legal Defense Fund
1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 710
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202)986-2600
Fax: (202)986-2539
Judith Lichtman, Pres.
Attorneys, administrators, publicists, and secretaries. Purpose is to secure equal rights for women through litigation, advocacy and monitoring, legal counseling and information, and public education. Works for women’s rights in family law, employment, education, and other areas. Committees include Counseling on Domestic Relations. Publications: WLDF News, semiannual. Newsletter reporting on women’s legal rights in the areas of employment and family law, including Supreme Court decisions and legislative developments; also covers organization activities. Also publishes handbooks, manuals, and brochures on discrimination in employment, domestic relations law, and others.
Women’s Rights and the Law
Women’s Law Project
125 S. 9th St., Ste. 401
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215)928-9801
Fax: (215)928-9848
You’re Entitled!: A Divorce Lawyer Talks to Women
Contemporary Books, Inc.
180 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312)782-9181
Fax: (312)782-2157
Sidney M. De Angelis. 1989. Subtitle: Everything You Need to Know to Ensure Your Financial Security and Emerge a Winner. Provides tips to women facing a divorce such as how to find the right divorce attorney, what papers to find and save before the separation, how to avoid custody litigation, fair division of marital property, alimony, and child support.
SUPPORT AND PROPERTY
Alimony: New Strategies for Pursuit and Defense
American Bar Association
Publications Planning and Marketing
750 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60611
1988. Chapters cover such topics as consideration of misconduct in setting alimony; duration of alimony; modification and enforcement; taxation; child support guidelines; and handling alimony and support cases.
Alimony Today: Do You Know the Rules?
Andrea Axelrod. Cosmopolitan, Vol. 210, April 1991, pp. 216(4). Discusses trends in spousal support payment. Spousal support is awarded less frequently today than a generation ago, and although alimony laws apply to both men and women, women generally receive alimony more often than men. Provides list of practical steps that can help people prepare for divorce including keeping a separate bank account and maintaining financial records.
America’s Society of Separated and Divorced Men
575 Keep St.
Elgin, IL 60120
Phone: (312)695-2200
Richard Templeton, Pres.
Dedicated to the elimination of unreasonable alimony, child support, custody, and property settlement awards. Devoted to establishing respect for marriage in the courts, and to upholding the rights of fathers to their children. Seeks the development and maintenance of certain experimental federal and Supreme Court suits, as well as educating the public about divorce customs and practices. Conducts interviews with divorced and separated men to discuss their situations and offer help if possible. Also provides pro-male attorney referrals.
Association for Children for Enforcement of Support
723 Phillips Ave., Ste. 216
Toledo, OH 43612
Phone: (416)476-2511
Free: 800-537-7072
Fax: (419)478-1617
Geraldine Jensen, Pres.
Also known as ACES. Custodial parents seeking legal enforcement of child support. Provides educational information about the legal rights involved in child support enforcement. Advocates improved child support enforcement services from the government. Seeks to increase public awareness of how a lack of child support affects children of divorced parents. Sponsors research and educational programs. Maintains speakers bureau. Publications: Newsletter, semiannual. Also publishes How to Collect Child Support (handbook) and Status of Child Support in U.S.
Bankruptcy and Divorce: Support and Property Division
Wiley Law Publications
7222 Commerce Ctr. Dr., Ste. 240
Colorado Springs, CO 80919-9809
Judith K. Fitzgerald and Ramona M. Arena. 1992. Offers expert advice pertaining to practical problems that occur as a result of interplay between family and bankruptcy law. Chapters cover such topics as support, property settlement, contempt, and premarital agreements. Includes sample motions, adversary complaints, and answers drawn from actual pleadings.
Bankruptcy Issues in Matrimonial Cases: A Practical Guide
Prentice Hall Law & Business
Rte. 9W
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Phone: (201)592-2000
Ronald L. Brown and Michael J. Albano. 1992.
Breaking Up Is Complex to Do
Eric Schmuckler. Forbes, Vol. 142, October 24, 1988, pp. 360(3). Financial implications of divorce law.
Child Custody Litigation
Richard A. Gardner, M.D. Subtitle: A Guide for Lawyers, Parents and Mental Health
Professionals. Deals with the trauma of divorce to both parents and children. Section One details the psychological damage probable to both children and parents due to prolonged child custody litigation. Section Two describes alternative methods for resolving conflicts, including mediation. Section Three discusses therapeutic treatment for children and parents. Section Four deals with proposed changes to the social structure, legal system, and educational process.
Child Support Collection of America
4669 Southwest Fwy., Ste. 714
Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713)877-2121
Child Support Resistance
PO Box 46666
Cincinnati, OH 45246
Phone: (513)677-7136
Robert M. Evenson, Dir.
Individuals who oppose child support laws and their enforcement. Seeks to abolish all such laws and the agencies that enforce them. Views child support as a private matter for all parents, and believes that divorced parents should not be singled out and discriminated against by the legal system. Acts as clearinghouse for information and advice on resisting child support orders.
The Child Support Survivorss Guide
B.T. Schnell. 1988.
The Children Who Get Cut Out
David Whitman. U.S. News & World Report, Vol. 103, October 12, 1987, pp. 24(2). Discusses state laws on child-support payments.
Collier Family Law and the Bankruptcy Code
M. Bender
11 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10001-2006
Henry J. Sommer, Margaret Dee McGarity, and Lawrence P. King. 1991.
Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues
2471 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202)255-6740
Bipartisan legislative service organization of the U.S. House of Representatives with the goal of improving the status of American women and eliminating discrimination built into many federal programs and policies. Supports legislation to improve women’s status; has arranged regular meetings with cabinet officers and administration officials to establish a dialogue with the executive branch on issues concerning women. Focuses on equal treatment of women regarding Social Security, federal and private pensions, insurance, and child support enforcement.
Deadbeat Dads
Steven Waldman. Newsweek, Vol. 119, May 4, 1992, pp. 46(6). Many divorced women with children live in poverty when fathers refuse to pay court-ordered child support. The non-supporting fathers, some of whom owe thousands of dollars, have managed to evade their responsibility, in part due to public apathy.
Distribution of Matrimonial Assets on Divorce
Butterworth U.S., Legal Publishers, Inc.
289 E. 5th St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (612)227-4200
Michael L. Rakusen. 1989.
Divorce and Bankruptcy
Pennsylvania Bar Institute
104 South St.
PO Box 1027
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1027
Pennsylvania Bar Institute. 1991.
Divorce and Fatherhood
Cambridge University Press
32 E. 57th St.
New York, NY 10022
J. W. Jacobs, editor. 1987. Subtitle: The Struggle for Parental Identity. Review of psychiatric literature on divorce and fatherhood. Topics covered include joint custody, education for parenthood, and child support.
Divorce and Money
Nolo Press
950 Parker St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510)549-1976
Free: 800-992-6656
Violet Woodhouse and Victoria Felton-Collins. 1992. Subtitle: Everything You Need to Know About Dividing Property. Explains how couples going through a divorce can evaluate their assets and negotiate a fair settlement. Helps in understanding investments, pensions, and support payments.
Divorce Truths Everyone Needs to Know
Barbara Gilder Quint. Glamour, August 1992, pp. 138(2). Laws on the division of property in a divorce differ according to whether a state follows community property or equitable division. Tax implications can also affect decisions on how property will be divided.
The Dollar Side of Divorce
Ronaleen R. Roha. Changing Times, Vol. 41, May 1987, pp. 94(5). Includes related articles on finding legal help, and state laws on dividing property.
The Effect of Bankruptcy on Divorce Proceedings, Agreements, and Judgments
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
20 West St.
Boston, MA 02111
Paul M. Kane, Mark G. DeGiacomo, and John S. Legasey. 1991.
Encyclopedia of Matrimonial Practice
Prentice Hall Law & Business
270 Sylvan Ave.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Free: 800-223-0231
Fax: (201)894-8666
Ronald L. Brown. 1991. Provides information on issues that matrimonial lawyers face in their practices including distribution of property, child and spousal support, insurance, tax, and bankruptcy issues, and custody and visitation rights.
Ex-Partners of Servicemen (Women) for Equality
PO Box 11191
Alexandria, VA 22312
Phone: (703)941-5844
Mary Wurzel, Pres.
Also known as EXPOSE. Ex-military spouses whose purpose is to alert members of Congress to the need for change in laws concerning military benefits after divorce. Aims to educate past, present, and future military spouses as to the state of their benefits after divorce. Seeks legislation that treats marriage as an economic partnership. Feels that in the event of divorce, retirement pay should be divided (prorated). Has achieved legislation for the direct payment of court-awarded monies from ex-spouses retirement pay for alimony, child support, property settlement, medical care for most of those already divorced and those contemplating divorce, and courts ability to award survivor benefits. Maintains hot line, (703)255-2917. Publications: Ex-Partners of Servicemen (Women) for Equality Newsletter, bimonthly. Also publishes A Guide for Military Separation or Divorce (booklet).
Fathers for Equal Rights Newsletter
National Congress for Men
11705 N. Adrian Hwy.
Clinton, MI 49236
Phone: (202)328-4377
Monthly.
Father’s Rights: The Sourcebook for Dealing with the Child Support System
Walker and Company
720 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212)265-3632
Free: 800-AT-WALKER
Fax: (212)307-1764
Jon Conine. 1989.
Future Earnings: Key to Settlements
USA Today, Vol. 120, December 1991, pp. 8(2). Future earning potential can be treated as marital property to achieve greater equality in divorce settlements. Presents the view that many wives earn less than their husbands and spend more time at home raising children, which results in a lower settlement.
Good Dads Bad Deals
Sue Hertz. Boston Magazine, October 1991, pp. 70(6). Divorced fathers can end up victimized by the legal system. Several cases are presented that outline the frustration felt by fathers toward the courts and laws regarding child support and custody.
How to Collect Child Support
Longmeadow Press
Div. of Waldenbooks Co., Inc.
PO Box 10218
201 High Ridge Rd.
Stamford, CT 06904
Phone: (203)352-2910
Free: 800-322-2000
Geraldine Jensen and K. Jones. 1991. Covers child support issues, methods of collection, how much should be paid, how to work with attorneys, and other topics including obtaining medical support for children, and visitation and custody issues.
How to Do Better at Collecting Child Support and Alimony
Legovac, Inc.
PO Box 150340
Altamonte Springs, FL 32715-0340
Phone: (407)830-1380
Robert S. Sigman. 1991.
I Get Half of Everything... and Other Expensive Myths About Divorce
Ronaleen R. Roha. Changing Times, Vol. 45, January 1991, pp. 61(3).
If You Can’t Rely on the Child Support System, What’s a Mother To Do?
Glamour, Vol. 85, Nov. 1987, pp. 104(1). Editorial.
Interrelation of Child Support, Visitation, and Hours of Work
Jonathan R. Veum. Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 115, June 1992, pp. 40(8). Research results indicate that young mothers are more likely to be employed if they receive child support payments. These women are more likely to earn more and work longer hours if the father visits the children. Young fathers who provide child support payments have a greater likelihood of visiting their children than those who do not pay child support.
The Law of Equitable Distribution
Warren, Gorham & Lamont, Inc.
1 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10119
Phone: (212)971-5000
Free: 800-950-1217
Fax: (212)971-5025
Gregory John DeWitt. 1989. Covers the basic underlying principles of property division relating to contemporary legislation and case law in the United States pertaining to divorce.
Let’s Not Forget the Children
Susan Speir. Ladies Home Journal, Vol. 107, July 1990, pp. 22(4). Discusses collecting child
support.
Mixing Marriage and Business
Sharon Nelton. Nation’s Business, Vol. 78, May 1990, pp. 36(1). Divorce and couple-owned
businesses.
National Child Support Advocacy Coalition
PO Box 420
Hendersonville, TN 37077
Phone: (615)264-0151
Beth Bellino McKinney, Exec.Dir.
Organizations, parents, and others advocating improved child support enforcement. Promotes public awareness of the economic effects of lapsed child support; works to ensure enforcement of child support laws. Evaluates changes in child support laws; monitors legislation and implementation of new laws. Facilitates exchange of information and networking among parents and child support advocates. Operates referral service; conducts research and educational programs; maintains library and speakers bureau. Publications: NCSAC Bits, 8/year. NCSAC News - Child Support Advocate, quarterly. Newsletter covering legislation, current research, and association activities.
National Child Support Enforcement Association
Hall of States
400 N. Capitol NW, No. 372
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202)624-8180
Kathleen Duggan, Exec.Dir.
State and local officials and agencies responsible for enforcing reciprocal and family support enforcement laws for support of dependents. Committees: Family Support Councils; Indian Reservations; Legislative; Resolutions. Formerly: (1984) National Reciprocal and Family Support Enforcement Association. Publications: National Roster and Interstate Referral Guide, biennial. Newsletter, bimonthly.
National Coalition of Free Men
PO Box 129
Manhasset, NY 11030
Phone: (516)482-6378
Tom Williamson, Pres.
Men seeking a fair and balanced perspective to gender issues. Advocates the legal rights of males in areas such as divorce and child custody law, false accusation of rape, and sexual harrassment and abuse of men. Operates speakers bureau on men’s issues. Computerized services: Database containing library of men’s issues. Committees: Gender Bias in the Courts; Letter Writing. Publications: Transitions, bimonthly. Newsletter featuring articles on men’s issues, movie and book reviews, and research results.
National Committee for Fair Divorce and Alimony Laws
11 Park Pl., Ste. 1116
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212)766-4030
Fax: (212)791-3056
Sidney Siller, Gen. Counsel
Individuals interested in having antiquated divorce and alimony laws changed. Seeks to limit alimony, alimony prison, and the concurrent jurisdiction of the Family Court and the Supreme Court (in New York). Advocates adequate child support with both parents contributing and equal visitation and responsibility for each parent. Supports a standard and uniform divorce code in every state. Maintains extensive files of pertinent material, newspapers, and periodicals. Has formed the Institute for the Study of Matrimonial Laws. Provides personal assistance to those involved in marital difficulties. Conducts monthly symposium. Committees: Child Custody; Second-Wives. Affiliated with: National Organization for Men. Publications: Newsletter, monthly.
National Congress for Men
11705 N. Adrian Hwy.
Clinton, MI 49236
Phone: (202)328-4377
Travis Ballard, Pres.
Coalition of organizations and individuals promoting father’s rights, men’s rights, and divorce reform. Advocates: respect for the role of fathers in the healthy growth and development of their children; equality in child custody litigation; joint custody; enforcement of parental rights and schedules; equitable child support guidelines, orders, and enforcement; greater accessibility of, and fairness in, the courts and other dispute resolution bodies. Conducts educational programs; trains and provides certification to father’s rights counselors. Electronic bulletin board, (602)840-4752. Publications: Fathers for Equal Rights Newsletter, monthly. Includes legislative reports, litigation updates, and research results. National Congress for Men Directory, periodic. Lists organizations active in divorce reform. NetWORK, quarterly. Newsletter.
National Institute for Child Support Enforcement
7200 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 500
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (410)654-8338
Athena M. Kaye, Dir.
For-profit. Consulting firm that provides training and technical assistance for those working in child support enforcement agencies and research on more efficient processing of child support caseloads. Dedicated to improving administration of programs that protect the rights of children to have their paternity established and receive support from both parents. Maintains Child Support Enforcement Training Program. Publications: Reports, handbooks, and guides.
National Organization to Insure Survival Economics
c/o Diana D. DuBroff
12 W. 72nd St.
New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212)787-1070
Diana D. DuBroff, Dir.
Also known as NOISE. A one woman crusade to help the victims of divorce; to promote programs for and to find new ways and means to cope with support problems for a family after a divorce. Is forming research and education programs. Supports the idea of divorce insurance, to be given as a wedding gift by parents and grandparents or to be taken out at the time of marriage and to insure child support if the marriage should end in divorce. According to DuBroff, no enforcement laws would be necessary if support were insured and property settled before spouses file for divorce. DuBroff also advocates homemakers services insurance. Seeks to persuade insurance companies to provide Single Parent Living in Poverty (SLIP) coverage by circulating a petition. Sponsors the Institute for Practical Justice, a nationwide educational service which helps people resolve disputes and avoid litigation. The institute produces Practical Justice by a Creative Lawyer (a cable television series) and sponsors seminars and lectures.
NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson St., 12th Fl.
New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212)925-6635
Fax: (212)226-1066
Helen Neuborne, Exec.Dir.
Functions as an educational and litigating sister group to the National Organization for Women to provide legal assistance to women and to educate the public on gender discrimination and other equal rights issues. Purpose is to combat, by legal action and educational and community-based projects, discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin. Sponsors Women’s Media Project, Project on Equal Education Rights, National Judicial Education Program to Promote Equality for Women and Men in the Courts, Women’s Economic Rights Project, and Family Law Project. Programs: Information and Referral Service; Legal Intern. Publications: Legal Resource Kit: Divorce and Separation. Provides information and practical tips, resources, and annotated bibliographies on various topics. State by State Guide to Women’s Legal Rights. Also publishes reports, surveys, brochures, and pamphlets.
Organization for the Enforcement of Child Support
1712 Deer Park Rd.
Finksburg, MD 21048
Phone: (410)876-1826
Elaine M. Fromm, Pres.
Persons seeking enforcement of laws pertaining to child support. Works with the legislative, judicial, and administrative branches of local, state, and federal governments to improve the child support enforcement system. Educates legislators, courts, and the public on the problems involved in collecting child support; makes people aware of their rights under current child support laws. Conducts selfhelp and educational workshops; maintains hot lines and referral services. Maintains library of legislative information and government and university books, booklets, research papers, and reports. Holds speakers meetings, business meetings, and rap sessions. Publications: Pied Piper, quarterly. Newsletter. Describes the organization’s work to inform people of their rights under current child support laws. Self-Help Guide, Your Rights and Responsibilities to Your Children After Divorce, and Kids Need to Know About Child Support.
Property Division at Marriage Dissolution Cases
West Publishing Company
College & School Division
PO Box 64779
58 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55164-9424
Phone: (612)668-3600
Joan M. Krauskopf. 1991.
Protecting Your Money in a Divorce
Michele Wolf. Good Housekeeping, Vol. 216, May 1993, p. 222(1). Marital property includes anything earned, saved, or acquired by either mate during a marriage. Divorced women often need more funds than their spouses when they have custody of the children. Legal help is available, and keeping good records is necessary.
Psychological Experts in Divorce, Personal Injury, and Other Civil Action
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Dept. 063
PO Box 6793
Somerset, NJ 08875-9977
Mark J. Ackerman and Andrew W. Kane. 1993. Portrays the intentions, outcomes, and methods to elicit pertinent information from experts on psychological evaluations.
Silent Revolution: The Transformation of Divorce Law in the United States
University of Chicago Press
5801 S. Ellis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: (312)702-7700
Free: 800-621-2736
Fax: (312)702-9756
Herbert Jacob. 1988. Examines divorce law in the United States since 1966. Focuses on the routine legislative changes that have taken place, such as the advent of no fault divorce, and the harmful effects on women and children.
Speed the Search for Deadbeat Dads
The New York Times, Vol. 142, July 17, 1993, pp. 10(N), 18(L) col. 1. Editorial regarding fathers who do not pay child support.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Child Support Enforcement
370 L’Enfant Promenande, SW, 4th Fl.
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: (202)401-9373
Fax: (202)401-4683
Helps states develop, manage, and operate their child support enforcement programs effectively and according to federal regulations. These programs are a federal, state, and local effort to collect child support from parents who are legally obligated to pay. Services include the Federal Parent Locator Service, which assists states in locating persons responsible for child support payments. The Locator Service is used in cases involving parental kidnapping related to custody and visitation determinations.
When You Should Hold Your Property in Joint Names
Robert J. Klein. Money, Vol. 17, November 1988, pp. 205(2).
When Your Ex Won’t Pay
Thomas Nazario and Roy DeLaMar. Parents Magazine, Vol. 66, March 1991, pp. 63(5). Subtitle: If the Child-Support Checks Just Aren’t Arriving, Here’s How to Get Help. Includes related articles.
Where Have All the Fathers Gone? Families in Poverty
National Council on Family Relations
3989 Central Ave. NE, Ste. 550
Minneapolis, MN 55421
Shirley M.H. Hanson. 1991. Presentation of the National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference. Reports on research conducted on the role of men in families and fatherhood.
Why Fathers Don’t Pay
Claire Berman. McCalls, Vol. 115, May 1988, pp. 51(4). Discusses divorced fathers and child support.
The Word to Deadbeat Dads: Pay Up
David Whitman. U.S. News & World Report, Vol. 101, December 1, 1986, p. 22(1). Discusses fathers who fail to support their children.
MEDIATION
Academy of Family Mediators
1500 S. Hwy. 100, Ste. 355
Golden Valley, MN 55416
Phone: (612)525-8670
James C. Melamed, Exec.Dir.
Attorneys, mental health professionals, and others trained in family mediation. Promotes mediation as an alternative to an adversarial system in family and divorce disputes. Publications: Directory of the Academy of Family Mediators, annual. Mediation News, quarterly. Discusses issues and practices in family mediation and family law. Mediation Quarterly. Journal. Also produces conference audiotapes; distributes Custody of Willie: Three Mediation Approaches; Dividing Yours, Mine and Ours - Property Division Mediation; Family Mediation: it’s Up to You; and Contracting for Mediation - The Initial Consultation (videotapes).
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
c/o Amer. Bar Assn. Family Law
750 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312)988-5584
Fax: (312)988-5584
Marshal J. Wolf, Chm.
Lawyers interested in family mediation and arbitration. Sponsors educational programs. Affiliated with: American Bar Association. Formerly: (1991) American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Mediation and Arbitration Committee.
