_____________________________________(your name)                                                  ____________________(today’s date)

_____________________________________(your address)

_____________________________________

Governor/Senator/Assemblyman ________________________ (print their name here)

____________________________________ (print their address here)

Albany, NY 122 __ __

Dear _____________________________________: (print their title and last name here)

    I have personally been involved in a family matter in New York State.  I have been told that New York is one of the few remaining states that has a presumption of sole physical custody

in 100% of cases decided in the courts.  One parent (and their entire family) is always relegated to “non custodial” status and then is even labeled as a “visitor” for the time they spend

with their own child.  There is no access enforcement for a parent who is denied their court ordered parenting time with their own child. 

    Further the courts are a mess and difficult to get justice in them as you are bounced around in the system and from court to court and they are overloaded.  There is no mandatory mediation

so parents that have a disagreement can settle it outside of court.  Judges are often biased against men, women, minorities or all of them depending on which Judge you get.  It seems like no

one cares and no one is helping parents be with their children.  The only thing worried about is child support collections.  Even there the system doesn’t work.  Parents due support often don’t get

it right away because of mistakes.  Parents who are assessed child support are often treated like criminals.  Parents who have paid are often not credited with the payments.  People behind in

support, whether for real of just a mistake by the collectors, are subjected to excessive collection methods and thrown in jail even if they are poor.  Many parents don’t spend the support on the

child as there is no accounting of where the money goes.

    While this is bad for parents, grand parents and extended families it is worse for the children.  It is so bad that children’s suicide rates double when their family breaks up. 

Children abuse alcohol and drugs more, they commit more crime and they have children early (teen years) and out of wedlock more. 

Please do something to help these families and mostly help these children stay healthy and happy with both of their parents families involved.

Please send me a reply to this letter and I would like to add:    

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(sign your name here)

Form Template Provided as a Service to Families by: Coalition of Fathers and Families NY, Inc. PO  Box 782 Clifton Park, NY 12065