Dear Friend and Fellow Advocate,
Thanks for visiting our site! If you are looking for answers to a family law problem you have come to the right place. I hope you will find the information here helpful.
The subject of this article is "The Truth About Family Law and Attorneys." It is a brief and condensed excerpt from the full article contained in the Father's Rights Survival Guide.
A statement made by Ben Franklin two hundred and fifty years ago is not nearly as true as it once was!
"He (or She) who represents themselves in court has a fool for a client."..... Benjamin Franklin
Today this statement is entirely untrue as it relates to the family law system and attorneys practicing Family Law. In fact, the real truth is found in another famous quotation:
"A fool and his money are soon parted".....Unknown
When I became involved in the Father's Rights movement in 1992 there was one recurring issue that kept surfacing in almost every conversation I had with hundreds of men. The issue: The value and necessity of family law attorneys! To understand the dubious nature of a family law attorney you must first understand how family law proceedings are very different than other court proceedings.
Family Court conducts itself differently than other forms of civil and criminal law. In family court, everything is based on the subjective decision of a judge or mediator. Such decisions are loosely based on certain guidelines and laws however there is rarely a firm rule of law requiring the judge to make a certain decision. Furthermore, such decisions or rulings rarely resolve the problem since there is often no apparent legal issue being argued.
Most Judges and many family law experts will tell you that they don't have the answers to solving a family law problem. They will be quick to point out that they are not experts when it comes to children, marriage and family. They are reliant upon other experts, such as child psychologist, medical doctors, marriage and family counselors, mediators and other trained individuals. Contrary to popular belief family law judges don't simply sit at the bench and wait for individuals to plead their case. They would much prefer that litigants resolve the issues themselves through mediation, mandatory settlement conferences, arbitration, attorney meetings, counseling and other conflict resolution alternatives. It is well known that family law courts are highly dependent on these services. In fact, in cases involving custody and visitation issues, mediation is a requirement of law before the judge can even hear the case. Further, attorneys are not allowed at these proceedings. It should also be considered that well over 90% of all family law cases never make it to trial. They are settled at a simple hearing, mediation, arbitration, or by agreement between the parties. And that's exactly what the Judges want!
I have been involved in the Father's Rights movement for 28 years now. I started Father's Rights, Inc. in January of 1995 and began offering self-help legal assistance to men who simply did not have the money to hire an attorney. Many of these men had hired family law attorneys in the beginning but either ran out of money or became frustrated with the results and decided to take control and learn how the system works.
Let me be very clear! A family law attorney can never be your "knight in shining armor" that defends your personal honor before the court. They do little more than file paperwork and negotiate agreements. However, if the negotiations occur at the courthouse they will charge you court time of $300.00 to $500.00 per hour. Therefore, any party to a family law action should never solely rely upon an attorney to resolve disputed issues. You can do that yourself! Unless you are Bill Gates and have lots and lots of money to throw away, learn how the family law system works and check out your other legal options.
As previously discussed, family law attorneys are virtually useless in most family court cases. In fact they can (and often do) more to hurt your case than help it. Unless you have significant legal issues such as jurisdiction problems, complicated community property issues or some other difficult legal issue, avoid attorneys like the plague. Do not presume that your case will be anymore difficult than other cases. Further, don't presume that you will need an attorney because of angry threats made by the opposing party or because you have been served with family law legal papers. Again, check out other legal options. Family law issues are easier to resolve than you might believe. Remember, attorney's are businessmen FIRST, Attorney's SECOND!
The ultimate truth about family law and attorneys is: unless you take control of your own case and learn how the system works no attorney or other legal profession can ever help you! A family law case stays open forever therefore you must commit to learning the steps you can take to win or, at least, improve your case. Again take the time to learn the rules of the game before you play. You can be sure your Ex has!
Finally, before I finish let me debunk a HUGE myth related to family law that seems to be confusing Fathers not just in California but nationwide. In 27 years of Fathers rights advocacy I have NEVER met a single pro bono or free Fathers right attorney. Never! Truth is: Pro-bono attorneys don't exist in family law. I am aware of a few women's groups that provide free legal assistance to women in domestic violence cases but I am not aware of any such group that assist Fathers. I also know that the child support agencies in all other states offer free legal services to Mothers in child support cases but NOT to Fathers. It has been my observation that Pro-bono attorney's are usually limited to criminal law and civil rights cases but definitely not family law. However, if you know of a free pro bono attorney that handles Fathers rights family law cases please forward me the contact information and I will be glad to post it for free on this website. Bottom line: if Fathers want help they will have to pay!
Now let me ask you! Why have you come to this site? Are you looking for answers to your family law problems? Are you the Parent, Grandparent, girlfriend, sister or new wife of a man having problems in family court? Are you confused? Lost? Frustrated? Angry? Let me give you the same advice I was given years ago. Your case (or the case of the person for whom you are concerned) will never be resolved until you (they) take the time to learn how the Family Law system works. You must commit to learning the simple steps you can take now to resolve your present legal issues and avoid additional issues in the future. Remember, your failure is her victory!
First: While I was in law school I began writing a guide for men that would teach them how the family law system works. While I was writing the guide I read every book I could on family law issues. I interviewed State Congressmen, Senators, Judges, District Attorney's and numerous private attorneys. I reviewed client case files and spent hundreds of hours on the Internet researching family law related web sites. Additionally, for the past 23 years I have received over a 150 e-mail's and/or telephone calls per day from individuals all over the United States who are seeking information about their particular family law problems. I've heard it all!
After considerable research I wrote a series of nine booklets on every major family law issue. It's called the Fathers Rights Survival Guide. The guide contains sections on Divorce, Child and Spousal Support, Child Custody and Visitation, Child Support Enforcement problems, Contempt of Court, Restraining Orders, Move-away Issues and The Truth about Family Law and Attorneys. This information was written so that a ten-year old boy could understand its content. It is filled with very revealing information that is critically important to any man facing family law problems. Further, it is all you will need! You won't need to spend time at law libraries or bookstores. You won't need to spend countless hours on the Internet reviewing information that is often confusing and difficult to understand. I have done this work for you! Also, the information in the guide is good in all 50 States!
Here is my commitment to you: If you will commit to learning the simple steps you can take to either avoid or resolve family law problems and purchase the Fathers Rights Survival Guide (or purchase one of the The Advocate Plans) I will make a personal commitment to help you! If you purchase and read the Fathers Rights Survival Guide I will make myself available to answer any questions you may have. You can contact me at: law4dad@gmail.com and I will respond. Where can you get this kind of help for $60.00? And you get Free Updates for Life! To order the Fathers Rights Survival Guide click here!
Second: In the Free reports I shared with you my own personal failure in Family court 27 years ago. I shared with you that it wasn't until I met another man, a father's right advocate and attorney that was willing to help me that I overcame a very difficult legal case. As I look back, the single greatest factor that changed my case was that I found someone to teach me and guide me. Someone I could contact anytime to discuss my case, my questions, fears, feelings. Someone that would be direct and honest with me. Someone that would tell me the truth about every aspect of my case! A Personal Advocate.
And now I am very excited to be able to offer you the same. It's called "The Advocate Plan". In fact there are now two Advocate Plans to choose from: The Advocate Plan Basic and The Advocate Plan Lifetime. Each plan contains an opportunity for you to speak with me personally. And hopefully you will let me become your Personal Advocate.
The Advocate Plan BASIC Provides you with a thorough and state specific consultation on all of your legal issues including child support calculation. Once completed we will tell you exactly where you stand on each and every issue, answer all of your questions and give you your specific legal options. It also allows you to have unlimited e-mail correspondence with me after the consultation. The Father Rights Survival Guide is included. The Advocate Plan Basic is fully up-gradable should you decide to do so later. (You only pay the difference in price)
The Advocate Plan LIFETIME - This is truly the ultimate legal service plan. It doesn't get any better than this! This plan provides everything contained in the basic plan and unlimited telephone conferences at no additional expense for the life of your case! Further, the Advocate Lifetime has an emergency contact feature called ERR-911 (Emergency Rescue Response) whereby you can contact us and receive a call the same day! Remember, family law cases remain open until there are no issues to resolve. In other words there will likely be other legal issues that arise in the future. This may not be the last time you will face a court action related to your case. Therefore, wouldn't it be great to be able to consult with me anytime for the life of your case? It could be that your ex will try and raise child support in the future, or perhaps you will want to try and get custody of your children. What ever the issues you will always have someone to speak with directly who will guide you each step of the way...for life!
The Advocate Plans begin with a thorough discussion about your case. During this discussion I will answer all of your questions and concerns. Second I will thoroughly analyze and evaluate your case facts. Third, once the evaluation is complete I will give you your legal options and together and we will form a legal strategy for resolving all of your issues. Fourth, both the Basic and Lifetime plans include unlimited e-mail correspondence with me for the life of your case. Fifth, you will receive the most recently updated version of the Fathers Rights Survival Guide and free updates for life. This guide is known as the "Father's Rights Bible" and contains cutting edge information on every family law issue. Further it teach you how the family court system works and prepare you for current and future issues. All legal information and guidance is based on your states specific family law statutes and case law.
Whether good news or bad, YOU WILL LEARN THE TRUTH! The truth about your Ex, your children, your attorney, the Judge, the mediator, custody evaluator, opposing attorney, counselor and any other significant person or issue involved in the future of your case! And here is the greatest part! The cost of The Advocate Plan Basic is just $135.00. You will also receive unlimited e-mail correspondence with me. If you prefer unlimited live telephone conferences and communication rather than e-mail then the Advocate Plan Lifetime is the best choice for you. The price of The Advocate Plan Lifetime is just $299.00. Where can any man go for this kind of legal assistance for this price? If you are really serious about winning or significantly improving your case just order an the Advocate Plan and let me become your personal advocate today!
I realize it may difficult for you to fully understand at this moment just how significant The Advocate Plans are and just how much I can help you if you will allow me to do so. What I am asking you to do is: Let me help you with your case! Let me become your advocate! Let me be the person you come to when you have questions and need answers now! Let me evaluate every aspect of your case HONESTLY and TRUTHFULLY! Learn where you stand today! Again, whether you are just starting a case or have been to court a number of times, whether you are or were married or never married but have children let me help you maximize your legal options. Finally, family law problems affect not only you but your new wife/girlfriend, parents, grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, employer, friends and most significantly your children! Don't wait any longer! Don't wait until it's too late! Make a commitment now to change your life and the lives of all who are around you by purchasing the Fathers Rights Survival Guide or one of the The Advocate Plans.
Good Luck and I hope to hear from you soon!
Your Advocate,
Mike L. Weening
Please help us HELP other Fathers by sharing & liking our website today.
