Law would let courts restore parental rights

I feel strongly that we do not go down that road, I would hate to see a circumstance where a parent is, for example, in prison and is sending petition after petition through the courts trying to regain parental rights, disrupting the child's life Measure gets unanimous approval from Assembly Judiciary Committee Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Clark County Family Court Judge Gerry Hardcastle, left, and Nevada Assemblywoman Susan Gerhardt, D-Henderson , ... via Nevada Appeal

[Sanita Swisher]

I live in Colorado Springs. I lost seven children. I committed no crimes against my children. I am a African American women. Criminaly I was aquited of all charges. leaving a 9yr old home alone. the cops and social worker invaded my home. they violated my civil rights. Because of my indigency status they took atvantage of the cituation violated quite a few laws and nothing was ever done about it. the office for civil rights took my case it took them almost three years to do anything. i was homeless left my sisters address FOR MESSAGES. The office for civil closed the case. they said they couldn't get in contact with me. I dont know what else to do. The custody issued has caused me mental health problems. I eat sleep and think about how to fight back.I know I did no wrong. My email address [e-mail]

[Frances]

I know for a fact, and beyond a shadow of a doubt my children still need me. Similar instance happened to me in Montana, and even though my sister was willing and able to take my children, Montana went ahead and did what they wanted to anyway.

[coerced]

My x changed hospitals and came to me with sad story that she had miscarried. within the first 4 months a friend of the mother's family came to me with truth that i had a son and was being lied to. It took almost 3 years to have a genetic test where i was proven father of child. I thought i was going to be able to have visitation, but instead i was told that as of that day, that i owed 6,000 in arrearages and 400 per month due from then on with no visitation until back child support was payed off, and i was showing my regular 400 monthly payment .i waz coerced into signing off parental rights ,extorted for child support as a ransom for my son who i was never allowed to see even when paying. whenever i missed a payment i was put in jail with warrants,resulting in loss of job,home,phone,and vehicle impoundment. after being bailed out of jail and owing everyone for help, i found myself in same place and worse with no job, no home, no car ,no phone, and warrents again at end of month, keeping me in a endless circle as a dead beat dad! The mother and courts told me for years to sign off my parental rights and the jail time would end and i would have the chance to get my life back up and running. For 9 years i refused to sign off my parental rights until i was broken down mentally.I signed their end of parental rights papers but i told courts it was "coerced ransom and extortion". The 1st judge threw it out and would not let me sign, but the second judge let it slide after making me repeat myself without saying the words "extortion and ransom" being of "my own free will". Now my child is 14 and i want to at least be able to see and talk to him but legaly im told i have to wait. I think maybe the courts should look more deeply into a child's home life and always should be able to appeal any child custody judgment made. But who am i ?biological father or a dead beat dad?

[jennifer]

department of children and family services is currently tring to terminate my parental rights.i am a single mother of two my children are 6 and five yjey need me im scared and i dont know what to do.i am currently getting my life together i am an addict i am in a longterm rehab i NEED HELP advice i am lost my children come to see mee every two weeks for two hours i am trying to convince my social worker to give me a second chance i have been clean and sober for six months HELP PLEASE.

[Tiffany Smith]

My Parental rights were terminated cause social services has said that i didn't complete my treatment plan all of my classes were completed except drug-alcohol class and safe homes. The drug-alcohol class wasn't completed due to my employment hours and my manager at that time couldn't change my hours so that i could've completed the class. Safe-homes is a counseling agency, the reason that i didn't complete safe-homes because i was released by the counselor at safe-homes due to i was already attending counseling at carolina counseling were soon i completed. I'm a mother that is in serious need of her children. PLEASE HELP!!!!!

[Tiffany Smith]

Also i'm adding that it was said in 2005 from a different counseling agency called,"Affiliated" that i was incapable to care for children. It was told for me to seek counseling at Spartanburg Area Of Mental Health of South Carolina due to my mental issues. Affiliated said that i was paranoid schizophina, ext. I went to mental health and the theraptist evaluated me an told me that i didn't have paraniod schizophina or any other major mental issues. She indeed say that i'm very depressed because my children aren't in my custody. I'm now have this case at the court of appeals in columbia, south carolina. I have 3 children that are out there that needs their mother. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

[Tracy Miller]

My husband signed his rights over to his ex girlfriend 12 years ago. The mother was going to move away to Germany with her new husband. Which they just had to get married on the same day we did so that his daughter couldn't be in our wedding. Imagin that! Well anyway we were fighting for vistitation when she told us that she was never coming back from Germany. After he signed his rights over they moved to Germany and were there for aonly 3 years. We just found this out. His daughter is now 15 and her mother died 2 weeks ago at the age of 33. We want to get her back so she can get to know us and her bother and sister. Does anyone think this might be possible?? Please help me!I need some answers. He never wanted to sign his rights over to begin with.

[Tiffine Middleton]

My husband found out about a 7 year old boy that is his.The mother kept him from us for 7 years.When my husband and I went to meet this little boy,the mother stated to my husband that she wanted him to sign over his parental rights,and that she is going to put him on child support.And this child is name after the suppose to be father.(Roderick J. Mitchell Jr.)

[Johnny]

Sanita Swisher wrote:

I live in Colorado Springs. I lost seven children. I committed no crimes against my children. I am a African American women. Criminaly I was aquited of all charges. leaving a 9yr old home alone. the cops and social worker invaded my home. they violated my civil rights. Because of my indigency status they took atvantage of the cituation violated quite a few laws and nothing was ever done about it. the office for civil rights took my case it took them almost three years to do anything. i was homeless left my sisters address FOR MESSAGES. The office for civil closed the case. they said they couldn't get in contact with me. I dont know what else to do. The custody issued has caused me mental health problems. I eat sleep and think about how to fight back.I know I did no wrong. My email address [e-mail]

I don't know how it all happened, but I sympathize with you and the others, however, MONEY TALKS. If the states have juristiction over your children and paying their way, then they won't hesitate to formulate orders regarding the care of your children. I think that's the worst thing that could happen to a MOM is to have her children taken away from her. States ought to know that most usually, the best place for the kids is with their MOM or DAD. To arbitrarily come into someone's home and take the children is unconscionable. It causes more disruption and heartache in my opinion. Good luck to you, Dear.I'm certain God hasn't forgotten you nor your children.

[Johnny]

coerced wrote:

My x changed hospitals and came to me with sad story that she had miscarried. within the first 4 months a friend of the mother's family came to me with truth that i had a son and was being lied to. It took almost 3 years to have a genetic test where i was proven father of child. I thought i was going to be able to have visitation, but instead i was told that as of that day, that i owed 6,000 in arrearages and 400 per month due from then on with no visitation until back child support was payed off, and i was showing my regular 400 monthly payment .i waz coerced into signing off parental rights ,extorted for child support as a ransom for my son who i was never allowed to see even when paying. whenever i missed a payment i was put in jail with warrants,resulting in loss of job,home,phone,and vehicle impoundment. after being bailed out of jail and owing everyone for help, i found myself in same place and worse with no job, no home, no car ,no phone, and warrents again at end of month, keeping me in a endless circle as a dead beat dad! The mother and courts told me for years to sign off my parental rights and the jail time would end and i would have the chance to get my life back up and running. For 9 years i refused to sign off my parental rights until i was broken down mentally.I signed their end of parental rights papers but i told courts it was "coerced ransom and extortion". The 1st judge threw it out and would not let me sign, but the second judge let it slide after making me repeat myself without saying the words "extortion and ransom" being of "my own free will". Now my child is 14 and i want to at least be able to see and talk to him but legaly im told i have to wait. I think maybe the courts should look more deeply into a child's home life and always should be able to appeal any child custody judgment made. But who am i ?biological father or a dead beat dad?

A child definitely needs it's DAD. I feel for you and wish I had the right words to say. At least your children know that you love them. If not, they'll get it!!

[Johnny]

jennifer wrote:

department of children and family services is currently tring to terminate my parental rights.i am a single mother of two my children are 6 and five yjey need me im scared and i dont know what to do.i am currently getting my life together i am an addict i am in a longterm rehab i NEED HELP advice i am lost my children come to see mee every two weeks for two hours i am trying to convince my social worker to give me a second chance i have been clean and sober for six months HELP PLEASE.

Keep up the good work, Jennifer!!

[Johnny]

Tiffany Smith wrote:

Also i'm adding that it was said in 2005 from a different counseling agency called,"Affiliated" that i was incapable to care for children. It was told for me to seek counseling at Spartanburg Area Of Mental Health of South Carolina due to my mental issues. Affiliated said that i was paranoid schizophina, ext. I went to mental health and the theraptist evaluated me an told me that i didn't have paraniod schizophina or any other major mental issues. She indeed say that i'm very depressed because my children aren't in my custody. I'm now have this case at the court of appeals in columbia, south carolina. I have 3 children that are out there that needs their mother. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

What else can we do Tiffany,but PRAY?

[Johnny]

I always thought that parental rights were automatic and God-given. I understand, however that in RARE cases those rights cannot always be present.

[Ms June]

A female in the wild, will defend the cubs until death. We as parents should do the same.

Its no buddys business, especially the cops or judges the fate of a mothers child.

[Mercedee]

My parental rights were terminated , due to false drugs test , and a false charge. The day after the Judge made his decision The lab results came back clean with a letter of an apology, and my criminal charges were droped .... My kids have been adopted can I reverse it ? PLEASE HELP ME !!!
ANYONE .. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

[Mercedee]

PLEASE EMAIL ME [e-mail]

[FormerSuperMom]

Finally a law that makes sense. Having not seen my children for 4 years now thanks to a brilliant clandestine scheme by my ex. and his "CPS on speed dial" sister, I do see the importance of this law.

From a legal standpoint, I am now heirless. I would have no next of kin that would be deeded survivorship rights to my estate should I have perished. I have changed beneficiaries on assets, but say for example I died before doing so. Instead of my "former" children inheriting my estate, the state would have gotten everything.

OR:

When a parents rights are terminated, so too are the rights of all relatives of that parent. Alot of things have to be reclassified, legally, in the event that the children were ever adopted outside the family. You wouldn't want to be leaving an estate to heirs you don't even know you have, so you must redo everything.

Finally, it is my hope that when my children reach the age of majority, they will adopt me, so we can reinstate these heir holdings to what they once were.

The oldest child was old enough to know and understand what was happening and seen it for what it was. If it were up to that child and he had a say, which he was never given a voice as to his wants, he would have maintained a parent child relationship with me.

The youngest was only 3 and was immediately placed in parent alienation programming, so he probably doesn't even remember who I am. I have established an education trust for him (and the eldest) nonetheless, so if nothing else, he has an opportunity to get a degree and make a life for himself, that he (they) otherwise wouldn't have.

It is mentally exhausting and very demeaning to lose rights to your children. In my case, I haven't even known of their whereabouts, to know if they are alive or dead.

So of course, for us parents in that circumstance, the feelings are twice as bad. It's like your child has died, but there is no headstone, or you don't know where the cemetery is. It is a horrific nightmare that you never shake. Every birthday, mothers day/fathers day, christmas, easter, halloween etc.. are extremely depressing.

Just when you start thinking you are moving on, one of these days pop up, and you fall right back into the lull again.

Nothing could possibly be more cruel. And nothing could possibly make a person more bitter or angry. I don't think I could be any angrier than if I had been falsely accused of a crime and sitting in prison.

So it is about time someone starts exhibiting some commonsense. This is a good law. At least let SOME families heal that have been unjustly ripped apart.

[Michelle]

coerced wrote:

My x changed hospitals and came to me with sad story that she had miscarried. within the first 4 months a friend of the mother's family came to me with truth that i had a son and was being lied to. It took almost 3 years to have a genetic test where i was proven father of child. I thought i was going to be able to have visitation, but instead i was told that as of that day, that i owed 6,000 in arrearages and 400 per month due from then on with no visitation until back child support was payed off, and i was showing my regular 400 monthly payment .i waz coerced into signing off parental rights ,extorted for child support as a ransom for my son who i was never allowed to see even when paying. whenever i missed a payment i was put in jail with warrants,resulting in loss of job,home,phone,and vehicle impoundment. after being bailed out of jail and owing everyone for help, i found myself in same place and worse with no job, no home, no car ,no phone, and warrents again at end of month, keeping me in a endless circle as a dead beat dad! The mother and courts told me for years to sign off my parental rights and the jail time would end and i would have the chance to get my life back up and running. For 9 years i refused to sign off my parental rights until i was broken down mentally.I signed their end of parental rights papers but i told courts it was "coerced ransom and extortion". The 1st judge threw it out and would not let me sign, but the second judge let it slide after making me repeat myself without saying the words "extortion and ransom" being of "my own free will". Now my child is 14 and i want to at least be able to see and talk to him but legaly im told i have to wait. I think maybe the courts should look more deeply into a child's home life and always should be able to appeal any child custody judgment made. But who am i ?biological father or a dead beat dad?

I feel for you, something similar to that happened to me. I did not read your entire story but what I did read was almost an exact thing that happened to me. Perhaps if we find other people in simular situations we can fight, more power in number. My email address is [e-mail] please email so we can discuss this

[Michelle]

Hello,

I read your post, and I was amazed to hear your story, only because something similar happened to me with my now 15 yr old daughter. I cannot believe the crap they dish out about oweing child support and so on, I mean I am all for child support, however, not to take away someone rights if they cannot pay. I have no read your entire story but I would like to hear from you. Perhaps if enough people complain the laws might get changed. I included my email address in my previous post, but just in case you didnt get it, it is [e-mail]
I look forward to hearing from you

[Lost]

I am a 32 year old female who lost rights to my two children in 2000. I was with a guy who abused my son but not my daughter. The courts ordered me to attend drug classes and to do random drops because they were told I used drugs and that was the reason I was with my ex. Totally bogus. "HE" actually was my drug. I attended the classes anyway and even did the drops. All of my drops came back clean and my drug counselor released me from the classes cause she felt that I did not need them. Eventually, my lawyer told me that the courts wanted me to either sign off on my rights or have the courts terminate them. I was 25 years old and had no clue as to the laws. My lawyer was a public defender and advised me to sign off so that I would still be able to see my children. He said that if the courts terminated my rights I would never be able to see them again. Scared, I chose to voluntarily sign off my rights to my mother. She currently allows me to see them and talk to them on a regular basis. However, my daughter has made it perfectly clear to me that she wishes she could be with me and not my mother because she forces them to attend religous services that she does not like. They are not allowed to celebrate any holidays nor birthdays and this affects both of my children. Today I spoke with an attorney who advised me of the "Parental Rights Restoration Act of 1990. Act 211." Alot of people do not know about this act but he said that if enough people push congress to give people second chances it just might work. If anyone out there knows of ways to get that in motion, please let me know. My e-mail address is [e-mail]. I must say that since all of this has happened, I am no longer with that guy, but have reunited with my daughters father, gotten married, have my own place, manage our family's finances and even have a full time permanent job. I must say that I have come a LONG way and am very grateful to at least still be in their lives. My heart goes out to all of the parents who have lost their children to senseless situations just because the states have more power than us. If anyone out there needs a friend to talk to, please feel free to e-mail me anytime. Thank you and God bless all of you. Good luck in your fight to be reunited with your children!!!!