I
live in Massachusetts but I
believe my story is a typical
one for all too many responsible and
loving fathers in the
great state of Connecticut and
all over our great country.
Five years ago my son
was 3 years old and my wife
decided that she did not want
to be married to me any more.
For 18 months after the separation
my son was with me two days
a week and every other weekend.
Because my lawyer told
me my chances of getting
shared custody in Massachusetts
were practically zero, I had
reluctantly agreed to my
wife having physical custody
of our son. Going into the pre-trial
hearing we had agreed on a Separation
Agreement that included two
weekday afternoons a week
with an overnight plus every
other weekend. Judge Ginsburg
took one look at our signed
agreement and imperiously
declared: "I am not
going to allow that, it's not
good for the child". We
were forced to re-negotiate
and after over $50,000 in attorney's
fees and gut wrenching needless
acrimony today I have my son
only one afternoon a week for
four hours plus every other
weekend.
Had the presumption of
shared parental rights and responsibilities
been the law in Massachusetts, today
my son would be able to see
his Dad a lot more and
I would be able to be more involved in
his schooling, his activities
and his parenting. I also
believe that given the prospect
of having to share parenting
rights and responsibilities
after divorce my wife might have
chosen to work out our differences
and today my son could
well have his father and
mother with him in the same
home as a family.
I urge you to support changing
the laws of Connecticut
so that even after divorce
children will be able to have
two fully involved, loving parents
in their lives.
Respectfully,
John G. Huber
45-C Liberty Square Road
Boxborough, MA 01719