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Fathers and Responsibility

mycasewebsites2 • Mar 08, 2014

I sat across from a young soldier in my office in Kabul, Afghanistan.  He was suffering.  No outward injuries.  He came to my office to have a document notarized.  The mother of his two-year-old son sent him papers she wanted him to sign.  She wanted him to give up his parental rights.

We did not operate a legal assistance office, but we did notarize documents.  However, when we did have soldiers with family issues, I would normally at least interview them because of my experience.  The initial attorney was alert and had the presence of mind to bring the soldier to me without notarizing the document.

Once I reviewed the document, I questioned him about it.  Did he know what the result of signing this would mean? “Yes, Sir.”  Did he understand that he was forever giving up all of the rights and responsibilities of being the father of this child? “Yes, Sir.”  Did he want to do it? “No.  She’s making me…she wants to move on with her life.  I figure this is the easiest thing to do.”

Fathers!  Your children need you.  They need you to support them financially.  They need your presence.  They need to know that you fought to be with them.  They need you to demonstrate perseverance, strength, and resolve for them.  They need to see you get up and go to earn a living.  They need to see you lead.  There is nothing easy about it.

I did not know the young woman involved, but I had no doubt that this new beau was only one in a relatively long line in her future.  The young man in front of me was on the brink of condemning his son to this experience, having no male anchor in his life.  I spoke with him at length about what a colossal mistake this would be.

I told him that I would notarize the document, but not that day.  I asked him to think about it for 48 hours and then, if he wanted to proceed, he could return to the office and get what he wanted.  I never saw him again.  He’s home by now.  I have no idea about the end result, but I hope he’s with his boy as I type this post.

Fathers, it is your responsibility to fight for your children.  One day, they will know, they will understand, that you did your best.

 

Love is a Battlefield-VA Disability Payments in Divorce

By mycasewebsites2 • 29 Aug, 2018
Mobile, Alabama has its fair share of military service members, veterans, and retirees. Sometimes, those folks get divorced. When they do, the military spouse’s military retirement is subject to equitable division by the Court. Either the parties agree on the division of military retirement or the Court divides it. In any event, the non-military spouse […] The post Love is a Battlefield-VA Disability Payments in Divorce appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Making Up Is Hard to Do

By mycasewebsites2 • 24 Apr, 2018
Thankfully, I’ve recently had a spate of couples who have decided to try and make their marriages work after filing a divorce. In a couple of instances, even after a great deal of fighting and legal wrangling, I’ve had clients lay down their swords and engage in reconciliation. I love it when that happens. In […] The post Making Up Is Hard to Do appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

What’s Different about McBay Law?

By mycasewebsites2 • 05 Sep, 2017
I grew up watching Sesame Street. I loved Oscar and the Cookie Monster. One of my favorite regular skits was the “One of These Things is Not Like the Other.” I loved picking out the thing that was different. Of course, there were only ever four “things,” so choosing what was different was relatively easy. […] The post What’s Different about McBay Law? appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Free Milk and a Cow: Common Law Marriage

By mycasewebsites2 • 06 Jul, 2017
More than 30 years ago, the Georgia Satellites released a song about a marriage ultimatum: “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.” The lyrics document the struggle between the singer and his lover over the terms of their relationship. We don’t know how that story ends; whether the couple married or split up. The song came to […] The post Free Milk and a Cow: Common Law Marriage appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Step-Parents and Custody Fights

By mycasewebsites2 • 06 Jun, 2017
For those of you reading my blog for the first time, I am a divorce and family law attorney who is divorced, has children, has remarried, and has another child in my current, and final marriage. Confused? Don’t be. I often write from the perspective of a Dad who has children for whom I have […] The post Step-Parents and Custody Fights appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Testimony in Divorce Cases: Don’t Monologue

By mycasewebsites2 • 30 Mar, 2017
If you have children, you’ve probably seen The Incredibles. I’ve seen it a MILLION times. One of my favorite scenes is the one in which Syndrome, who has Mr. Incredible in a seemingly inescapable situation, realizes that he is monologuing. Of course, monologuing is a common theme in all sorts of hero/villain movies. The hero is […] The post Testimony in Divorce Cases: Don’t Monologue appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Common Law Marriage Requires Regular Divorce

By mycasewebsites2 • 22 Mar, 2017
Recent Events in Divorce and Family Law If you live in Alabama, you may know someone who has a common-law husband or wife. While only a few states recognize marriages with the absence of an official license, Alabama is no longer one of them. Before January 1, 2017, you could have avoided the ceremony, the […] The post Common Law Marriage Requires Regular Divorce appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Waiting for the End of Time: Divorce in Mobile, Alabama

By mycasewebsites2 • 30 Dec, 2016
As a child of the seventies and eighties, I have vivid memories of hearing “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” as performed by Meatloaf on the radio. Of course, early on, I had no frame of reference for the story told in song about the heat of passion and the consequences. For those of you who’ve […] The post Waiting for the End of Time: Divorce in Mobile, Alabama appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

The Effects of Cohabitation on Alimony in Alabama

By mycasewebsites2 • 02 Nov, 2016
If you are paying or receiving alimony as part of a Divorce Order in Alabama, this one is for you. Under Alabama Law, the obligation to pay periodic alimony terminates upon the receiving party’s “cohabitation” with a member of the opposite sex. So, what does that mean? Under the case law, cohabitation is that thing […] The post The Effects of Cohabitation on Alimony in Alabama appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

If it can happen to Brad Pitt, it can happen to you.

By mycasewebsites2 • 29 Sep, 2016
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about what a mean son-of-a-bitch Brad Pitt is and that Angelina Jolie just can’t take it anymore. Multiple media outlets were eager to scoop Angelina’s side of the story about his anger management issues and how he’s a danger to the children. Lucky for Brad, […] The post If it can happen to Brad Pitt, it can happen to you. appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.
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