On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, September 19, 2012.
It used to be that a mother was automatically granted custody of the children. However, in recent years there has been a shift as both parents are being given more of a fair shot when it comes to obtaining primary custody of their children. This in turn has resulted in many more fathers being awarded sole physical custody.
Take for example the fact that a judge recently awarded R&B singer Usher primary physical custody of his 4-year-old and 3-year-old. For his ex-wife, the decision was hard on her, even tweeting, “Money can buy many things. But in the end. Truth & goodness will prevail. I must continue to believe this. Stand firm.”
However, she is hardly the only celebrity mom to lose custody — and she certainly won’t be the last.
It was even just last week when “Gossip Girl” star Kelly Rutherford started to tear up when talking about the fact that a judge awarded custody to her ex-husband who lives in France. She is still working to get them back in the U.S., but for the time being the kids, ages 3 and 5, are living across seas with their dad.
And who could forget the custody battle between basketball player Dwayne Wade and his ex-wife? During custody hearings she had even accused him of physical and mental abuse. But, in the end, the judge awarded the Heat player sole custody of his two sons.
When looking at these examples of fathers who have been awarded custody, while for most Illinois dads their stories won’t end up on the front of People magazine, there is still a lesson to be learned: Fathers have just as much a right to parent and should not give up in the courtroom. Rather, they should talk with an attorney with experience in father’s rights to see what the best course of action is to take.
Source: ABC, “Nasty Celebrity Custody Battles: Usher vs. Tameka Foster,” Luchina Fisher, Sept. 18, 2012
