Currently, mothers are awarded primary custody in 85 percent of Alabama divorce cases. Recently, legislatures in Alabama tried to change the law to joint custody. State Senate Bill 196 stated: "there is a fundamental importance... in the relationship between a child and each parent, and with this bill, legislators hope to give both moms and dads an equal share of parenting.
Although this bill failed to pass, many feel that plenty of fathers would benefit from this bill. Many fathers feel they are treated unfairly, and that this bill would guarentee them equal time. One of the key issues in determining this bill is the stability of the children. Clinical Psychologist Kenneth Sullivan explains, "if it's going to be split half and half, you'd expect that's going to impose less stability for the children. The children would be paying a price for the parents' preference."
While there are many on both sides of the fence, the fathers have no way to prove the psychologist claim. Many of the fathers fighting for more time with their children would like the opportunity to prove the psychologists are wrong. For this bill to pass, it will require enough fathers to stand up and fight for the rights and time with their children.
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