I am a concerned father in Utah who was not informed of the birth of my newborn child until 13 days after birth. Even with many attempts to reach out I was ignored. I was not  allowed to meet her until 21 days after birth. The  mother of my child has yet to allow a DNA test and took almost a month after birth to respond to my petition for joint custody. It's clear that my child is being used as a pawn in a manipulative game, and my rights, as a father, are being grossly neglected. 

This situation is not unique to me. Many fathers are facing similar tribulations in Utah and across the country. Therefore, we implore the Utah State Legislature to reform the laws regarding father's rights. Such reforms should include making DNA tests mandatory at birth without the need for a court order. Immediately following birth, the mother should have a 48-hour window to introduce the child to their father, failure to which should result in severe fines. We also request equal rights for fathers from birth, guaranteeing 50/50 joint legal and joint physical custody, unless proven guilty of domestic violence or crimes against children.

If the child’s mother starts a relationship with someone convicted of a sex crime against children, the father should be given custody until the person in question proves he is not a danger to the child. The father should not have to prove why he is the better option. The mother should also be required to notify the natural father if a sex offender moves into the home. 

Women should be required to identify the father on the birth certificate at time of birth. Failure to do so will be custodial interference and a crime that should be prosecuted for falsifying a government document.

Mothers that fail to list the father on the birth certificate should also be denied child support until the father is listed. Once the father is listed there should be no back child support. 

Moreover, legal measures should ensure that any mother deliberately withholding the child from their father faces criminal charges. These changes are necessary to prevent the discrimination father's are currently subjected to under the present system.

The fathers should have a right to have their parent time in their own homes from birth without the supervision of the mother. Interference will result in fines and or jail time. 

The negative implications of father absenteeism on children are well-documented. Evidence from the National Fatherhood Initiative shows that children without a father in the picture are four times more likely to live in poverty and two times more likely to drop out of school. Therefore, these reforms are not only a matter of men's rights but also a matter of securing the future of our children.

Join us in demanding these reformations in the Utah State Legislature. For the rights of fathers, and for the sake of our children, sign this petition.