Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

50/50 Equal Parenting: The Debate

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Originally posted by trinton View Post
    For the purposes of this thread, can we stick to the issue of 50/50 ? Though it's good to see all of things that can come up against 50/50, even material change threshold, I think that's a different issue all together.
    I think that "Material Changes of Circumstance" is of great significance when it comes to achieving 50/50. Most the time one parent is saying "No 50/50 because there's no material change" ... so it can be relevant to this thread also.

    We'll just keep it civil and toned down from here on out.
    Last edited by LovingFather32; 02-02-2017, 01:02 PM.

    Comment


    • Originally posted by LovingFather32 View Post
      I think that "Material Changes of Circumstance" is of great significance when it comes to achieving 50/50. Most the time one parent is saying "No 50/50 because there's no material change" ... so it can be relevant to this thread also.

      We'll just keep it civil and toned down from here on out.
      Good point.

      Should the mere act by a parent to put an application by 50-50 be considered a material change?

      How can a parent prove that 50-50 would be in the best interests of child absent of a material change?

      What if something was decided at trial to deem 50-50 not appropriate, say the parents didn't get along well, but started getting along after the order, would that be a material change to revisit 50-50?





      Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

      Comment


      • Originally posted by trinton View Post
        Should the mere act by a parent to put an application by 50-50 be considered a material change?
        Naa, not that easy. It's not what the parent wants. It's what is best for the child. The judge needs to do a careful analysis of all the facts to see if it betters the life of the child in any way.

        If you've been almost at 50/50 for a long time, I've read cases where judges say that in itself is a material change. Routines, transitions, etc have already been established, the children are already comfortable .... and it may cause more STRESS to deny the parent an equal relationship than to grant 50/50. So they grant 50/50. So much BS is left behind when everybody is on equal footing....and the kids feel that release of tension in a lot of cases.

        What if something was decided at trial to deem 50-50 not appropriate, say the parents didn't get along well, but started getting along after the order, would that be a material change to revisit 50-50?
        It could be, in combination with other factors. If you have texts, e-mails and other proof that communication and co parenting has drastically improved, the judge would surely take it in to consideration (especially if the old order denied 50/50 because of inability to communicate or effectively co parent).

        My ex tried that route also.

        "We can't communicate"...etc...So I want sole custody..blah blah.

        Her problem was that every form of communication I had with her was reasonable, resolution-oriented and child-focused. All of her communications were combative, negative and hostile. It didn't take long for the judge to see what was going on.
        Last edited by LovingFather32; 02-02-2017, 01:25 PM.

        Comment


        • Originally posted by LovingFather32 View Post
          Naa, not that easy. It's not what the parent wants. It's what is best for the child. The judge needs to do a careful analysis of all the facts to see if it betters the life of the child in any way.

          If you've been almost at 50/50 for a long time, I've read cases where judges say that in itself is a material change. Routines, transitions, etc have already been established, the children are already comfortable .... and it may cause more STRESS to deny the parent an equal relationship than to grant 50/50. So they grant 50/50. So much BS is left behind when everybody is on equal footing....and the kids feel that release of tension in a lot of cases.


          It could be, in combination with other factors. If you have texts, e-mails and other proof that communication and co parenting has drastically improved, the judge would surely take it in to consideration (especially if the old order denied 50/50 because of inability to communicate or effectively co parent).
          I think it's safe to conclude unless a parent consents to eow access, when there is nonevidence to link maximum exposure to both parents unhealthy to the child, then 50 50 is presumed to be best.

          If a parent has consented to eow , uneducatedly, and that arrangement is not what would have been put in place by courts, what effect does the material change threshold on the best interests of a child that is not thriving with eow access?

          What about court delays that make eow status quo?

          Should eow status quo be a road block to 50-50?





          Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

          Comment


          • Originally posted by LovingFather32 View Post
            Naa, not that easy. It's not what the parent wants. It's what is best for the child. The judge needs to do a careful analysis of all the facts to see if it betters the life of the child in any way.

            If you've been almost at 50/50 for a long time, I've read cases where judges say that in itself is a material change. Routines, transitions, etc have already been established, the children are already comfortable .... and it may cause more STRESS to deny the parent an equal relationship than to grant 50/50. So they grant 50/50. So much BS is left behind when everybody is on equal footing....and the kids feel that release of tension in a lot of cases.


            It could be, in combination with other factors. If you have texts, e-mails and other proof that communication and co parenting has drastically improved, the judge would surely take it in to consideration (especially if the old order denied 50/50 because of inability to communicate or effectively co parent).

            My ex tried that route also.

            "We can't communicate"...etc...So I want sole custody..blah blah.

            Her problem was that every form of communication I had with her was reasonable, resolution-oriented and child-focused. All of her communications were combative, negative and hostile. It didn't take long for the judge to see what was going on.


            Can I ask what you would deem "almost at 50/50"? What percentage of access time what put you at "almost" as opposed to "50/50 is going to be a huge change"?


            Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

            Comment


            • Originally posted by Ange71727 View Post
              Can I ask what you would deem "almost at 50/50"? What percentage of access time what put you at "almost" as opposed to "50/50 is going to be a huge change"?


              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
              Almost 50/50? 35?, 40?, 45 perhaps.

              Maximum contact is preferred when:

              a) "ability to parent" has been examined thoroughly and objectively.

              b) When the above does not meet the criteria of 24(4)--->patterns of abuse, addictions, patterns, etc.

              c) Parent is almost at 50/50 anyways (not a huge routine change for children. Increased binding with both loving parents seems to trump minor changes in schedule in most studies and caselaw.

              d) Maximum contact for parents in the above situations is 50/50. So IMO that's what it should be.

              Furthermore, the more cases I read the more I see that judges are considering "kids getting older" = new challenges = trumps status quo. Especially in teenage years and when it's nearly 50/50 anyways.

              It was correctly stated that having a new partner and a more stable family life (cooking, cleaning, bonding, affection, increased social stimulation, more organized, etc) DOES NOT in itself usually constitute a material change (in my view anyways)

              BUT .. it can push it over the threshold of a material change when combined with other factors..such as .....

              a) Kids are getting older (new hormones, confusion, challenges, etc)
              Status quo is not as significant if the order was made 10 years ago, etc
              With an increase in age = new challenges and new criteria to meet the
              needs of the child. Especially with romantic relationships, etc .. kids
              will benefit from having maximum exposure to both genders top confide
              in.

              b) Less parental stress (hard feelings over not seeing children as often as
              you'd like. (Research shows a dramatic decrease in tension in
              parents with an equal regime...even less depression, etc...which
              obviously directly affects the children

              c) Cases there one parent has BEEN there already for 35-40% of the time.
              No need for reunification procedures, etc. Kids happy and thriving for many years while under both parents care = Equal time will benefit even more (above points)

              I still hold my stance that there ARE TOO MANY situations where parents believe they are self-entitled, and spend way too much time trying to villify the other parent, limit their time, etc instead of swallowing their pride and giving equal parenting a go.

              One parent can not objectively assess another's ability to parent OR whether 50/50 should occur...that's for sure!!!!

              Comment


              • LF32, I think I have an interesting new topic to discuss here.


                What about a parent who denies the other parent 50/50 due to subsidized daycare being in place?

                Comment


                • Here is my two cents

                  Equal parenting will never happen without equal taxation.

                  So until our delusional policymakers make child support taxable to the recipient and tax deductible to the payor, equal parenting will never be feasible.

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by Desperate_Dad View Post
                    Here is my two cents

                    Equal parenting will never happen without equal taxation.

                    So until our delusional policymakers make child support taxable to the recipient and tax deductible to the payor, equal parenting will never be feasible.
                    doesn't sound like you are aware that child support is payable by both parents and that you are both entitled to child tax benefits in a shared custody regime (40% access threshold).

                    Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

                    Comment


                    • LoL - It sounds like you aren't aware of how are tax system works. The benefits you describe are based on net taxable income. Since child support is non taxable, it doesn't affect the calculation. So what ends up happening is the lower income earned gets less benefits because its now shared custody but the higher income earned doesn't get additional benefits because they are clawed back because their net taxable income is too high. The result is that between them the benefits are hundreds of dollars less per month. Therefore there is an incentive for the higher income earned to give custody to the lower income earner. Do you understand now?

                      Comment


                      • No I don't understand why a higher income would give custody to a lower income just to get a bigger tax break, which honestly half the time the higher income earner would never see if the lower income earner had majority of access.

                        Making CS taxable isn't going to change a whole lot other than maybe a refund one would see at the end of the year


                        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by Berner_Faith View Post
                          No I don't understand why a higher income would give custody to a lower income just to get a bigger tax break,
                          well said.

                          Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

                          Comment


                          • All I know is that in my situation:

                            1. Offset CS (Ex lower income earner)
                            2. We share ALL child tax benefits down the middle (Shared custody regime)

                            Guess I'm not understand this "giving up custody for tax breaks" rubbish.

                            The only issue I have now is I don't even really feel like paying offset. I pay for D5's ballet, her "Sparks", her clothing, her school stuff .. everything. I've applied for a second job now to be able to support my ex, who is deciding that babysitting a few hours/day is her calling (paralegal degree/bilingual, etc). I'm not really okay with her intentional underemployment .. but whatever.

                            Comment


                            • All three of you should become lawyers because they clearly don't understand the problem either. Therefore I won't waste anymore time replying to this thread.

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by Desperate_Dad View Post
                                Here is my two cents

                                Equal parenting will never happen without equal taxation.

                                So until our delusional policymakers make child support taxable to the recipient and tax deductible to the payor, equal parenting will never be feasible.

                                this post makes sense

                                but what about those 'baby bonuses" which I've heard can be quite signficant...

                                Comment

                                Our Divorce Forums
                                Forums dedicated to helping people all across Canada get through the separation and divorce process, with discussions about legal issues, parenting issues, financial issues and more.
                                Working...
                                X