New divorce law to help dads

A new Missouri child custody went into law last week.

Its aim is to put fathers on a level playing field when it comes to custody arrangements.

The previous standard custody arrangement was typically allowing for the father to have Wednesdays and every other weekend to spend with their children. This was a go-to arrangement and oftentimes judges refused to deviate from that arrangement during custody disputes. Now courts can't assume either parent should get more time with children based on their gender.

The new law:

• Creates guidelines for parenting plans that maximize the amount of time the child may spend with each parent.
• Requires courts to disclose why shared parenting wasn't awarded if another arrangement is ordered.
• Requires courts to provide written findings and conclusions in a custody case, which allows the case to be appealed if a party disagrees with a judgment.
• Specifies that courts can't presume that a parent, solely because of his or her gender, is more qualified than the other parent.
• Prohibits local courts from establishing their own rules, such as having a default parenting plan.

When reporter Mark Bliss first reported this new law, he got phone calls from all over the state, with divorced or soon-to-be divorced parents asking questions.

Some were concerned that deadbeat dads would get half the time with children. It's important to note that this law does not compel the courts to give 50 percent custody to a parent.

There are good moms and bad moms, and good dads and bad dads out there.

This law provides that if there's a good mom and a good dad, and no circumstances that would justify favoring one parent over another, then children should have equal access to both parents.

According to Bliss' reporting, State Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, helped push passage of the new law, which had bipartisan support. The measure passed unanimously in the Missouri Senate. The House passed it 154-2. Swan said Missouri is "on the cutting edge" when it comes to the new law. The law, she said, prohibits judges from adopting "a cookie-cutter, default custody order or plan."

This law makes sense, but ultimately each parent needs to have flexibility and a cooperative attitude to make sure their children have a healthy upbringing.