Fathers and Families seeks better lives for children through family court reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers, and which protects the child”s right to the love and care of both parents after separation or divorce.
The Fathers and Families Legal Defense Fund takes on cases and writes amicus briefs in cases which can help advance the cause of family court reform. In 2009, Fathers & Families brought a lawsuit to block the new Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. The lawsuit has been covered by the Associated Press, the New York Times, CBS, WRKO, the Boston Globe, NPR, Newsweek, and numerous other major media outlets. To learn more, click here.
Previously, Fathers and Families wrote an amicus brief for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court which helped win a precedent-setting case protecting children in joint physical custody from being moved out of state, away from one parent.
In the Savarese case, a Massachusetts father was hit with an erroneous child-support arrearage of over $100,000. Despite many obstacles, Fathers and Families was able to get the false arrearage wiped out.
Fathers and Families penned an amicus brief for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in A.H. v. M.P. supporting the parenting rights of a non-biological lesbian mother — a woman who had been a parental figure for the child for years but who was cut off from the child by the biological mother after the couple separated. Fathers & Families feared that the case could set a precedent marginalizing parents to whom children are deeply attached simply because they are breadwinners.
If you believe that you know of or are involved in a case that would be appropriate for the Fathers and Families Legal Defense Fund, we suggest that you fill out our our Family Law Help Form here and write “LDF” at the beginning of the “Family Law Problem” section. Please keep in mind that LDF cases are only cases which can help shape case law, not garden-variety divorces.
If you are going through a divorce or a separation and are looking for a referral for family law services, please click here.
Together with you in the love of our children,
Glenn Sacks, MA
Executive Director, Fathers and Families
Ned Holstein, M.D., M.S.
Founder, Chairman of the Board, Fathers and Families