As a father who’s gone through Pennsylvania’s family court system, I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is for men to get fair time with their kids — even when they are good, present, and willing parents. It’s heartbreaking to be treated like a visitor in your child’s life. I started this petition not just for myself, but for all the fathers (and children) who deserve better. Shared parenting should be the starting point, not the exception.

We, the undersigned, believe that children deserve the love, care, and presence of both parents — not just one. Too often, in custody cases across Pennsylvania, fit and willing fathers are treated as second-class parents or denied fair parenting time without clear cause. This causes irreparable harm not just to the fathers, but to the emotional well-being and development of the children.

We are calling for common-sense custody reform that puts children’s best interests first by supporting equal, active involvement from both parents.

We ask lawmakers to:

-Create a presumption of 50/50 shared custody when both parents are fit, willing, and able.

-Require courts to give written justification for awarding less than equal custody.

-Enforce protections against parental alienation and make interference with visitation enforceable.

-Mandate mental health evaluations in custody cases when a parent’s stability is in serious question.

-Train family court judges on unconscious bias and require transparency in decisions.

This is not about fathers versus mothers — this is about fairness and what’s best for the children.

Please stand with us and demand family court reform now.