Family Court System

I recently have been in/out Philadelphia Family court within the past year and a half now for custody, child support, and contempt court hearings. After these experiences in/out of court and multiple interviews of other men who previously went through the "system", I was shocked to notice a disparity among men's/father's rights in family court.

To say the least my personal experience within the Philadelphia family court system has been an absolute and complete nightmare, both figuratively and literally. Dating back to August 13th, 2023, my child's mother walked out on (My 1-month-old) daughter at the time and myself). Purpose of her absence was because she wanted to continue partying, hanging out, drinking, and to be quite frank she was not ready to be a mother again after sixteen long years.

At this time, my child's mother was heavily intoxicated and decided to leave our child behind with me at my mother's house, up until A custody hearing on September 20th. During her absence I have been the sole parent responsible for my daughter, no court order was ever established before September 20th. The child's mother never once tried to contact me, my family, or my attorney at the time to schedule a visit or take time to Inquire about our daughter and her overall well-being. At the court hearing on September 20th, my child's mother stated she was breastfeeding and stated that I was withholding our daughter from her. To be Honest, no child was ever withheld and at this point of time my child's mother was not breastfeeding, simply because she could not produce anymore due to taking long weeks off from pumping breast milk and her excessive drinking habits. AT this point of time my daughter was strictly on a formula-based diet (Similac Advanced). 

Again, all that she stated in this courtroom on this day was all completely falsified. I remember studying law in my college years and in the criminal justice field you are allowed a due process. For those that may not know what I am referring to Due process is the right that guarantees that the government cannot take a person's basic right to life, liberty, and property without due purpose of law. My point in saying all of this is, in family court they make one parent feel more superior than the other, without actually considering what's in the best interest of the child and hearing out the complete story. Family Court in Philadelphia is often rushed through without hearing both sides of the story. With all this being said I was handcuffed in front of my child's mother and escorted out to a holding cell for more than three and a half hours, all based of the dirty lies my child's mother stated in court. I was detained for three hours and a half and was never provided a formal explanation on why I was ever detained (Neither my attorney, opposing attorney, and Judge).  

Once I was brought back up from the holding cell, the rest of the opposing counsel testimony was heard and then the court without allowing me to speak or my attorney to speak, decided that the mother was in the best position to care for my daughter. Immediately after my case reached a verdict, I was escorted back to the holding cell I was previously placed in. About an hour later I was called to be release desk and provided one sheet of paper stating what the result of my case, nothing else. Once out of the courthouse I cried like a baby; some many emotions (sadness, anger, and frustration) consumed me at this moment, and I felt like I was shorted and not heard. I remember walking past several people in the streets who were just staring at me as I cried. This was a Real injustice to me and my daughter. Currently still going through court dates and dealing with a tough time trying to coparent with my child's mother. 

To this day my child's mother still lies left and right and doesn't even support our child with the money she currently receives for child support. Due to a new "PA child support calculations System" I am obligated to pay $700 a month in child support obligations, which is extremely expensive especially for a now, 7-month-old child. As a minority man in the States, having no criminal record at the age of 30 is extremely difficult. In an American Family court system where I ever get down on my luck, lose my job, or anything that presents a challenge to pay child support I am potentially looking at jail time, license suspension, garnished wages, and frozen bank accounts. 

We cannot even talk in person as adults because she flies off the handle and is not civilized. Courts always tend to take her side though, even our (both opposing and my lawyers) defend her tactics. Even with evidence present, with numerous copies of police reports filed against child's mother, condescending messages on our family wizard messages, videos/pictures of her wrongdoings. As men, we will always be looked upon as the aggressors.  

The biggest impact this flawed system fails is our kids and parents who want to do right and be a part of their kid's life's, respectfully speaking. Courts HAVE to take more time in hearing custody cases out, our kids are the ones truly impacted by this flawed, and bias based system at the end. 

I am writing this petition to spread awareness and highlight the major disparities and challenges fathers go through, not just myself, and the vicious oppressive system we have to go against. All fighting to be in their children's life and have some type of equality as far as parental rights. There are 100's of thousands of fathers going through or have been through the same vile, money-seeking, and expensive systems(experience) and it's time we start shifting our attention to the bigger, conniving, and heartless enemy... The Family Court systems of America.

Thank You.