Parent Magazine St. Johns March 2020 | Page 16

Legally Speaking: The New World of Parenting Plans Debunking the myth of a bias towards Women I n the course of my practice I have often heard out of Mother/Woman bias to be vaguely supported by the the mouths of my male clients “Yeah, I know that the statistics (i.e. historically, mothers have received the law is slanted towards mothers.” majority of majority custodial responsibility), it is not I find the statement quizzical. Ultimately, I would not give the sentiment much credit if it were not for the fact that I have heard it so often that I have to assume there is some repository of Family Law knowledge out there that is specifically taught to men that I somehow missed out on in my study of the law. factually accurate that the “law” is facially biased. In fact, the law goes out of its way to be neutral, or impartial on its face. Florida law states: 1. “It is the public policy of this state that each minor child has frequent and continuing contact with both Most of the time the notion is expressed as related to parents after the parents separate or the marriage the court determination of a time-sharing plan and of the parties is dissolved and to encourage parents child support. Now while I find the perception of the to share the rights and responsibilities, and joys, of 14 | S T. J O H N S parent M A G A Z I N E