Outrage Over A Missed Lunch Date

A Michigan Judge recently sentenced three adolescents to a juvenile detention facility after they refused to visit with their estranged father and claimed he was violent toward their mother. This decision has many people across the country wondering, “What happened to the best interest standard”?

The children- ages 9, 10, and 15 respectively, have been at the center of a bitter divorce and custody dispute since 2009. Records indicate that the Judge encouraged the children to see their father for some time and previously ordered the children to meet him for lunch, but they continuously refused. Finally, the children’s mother stepped up to persuade the children however, the Judge noted that the damage had been done and that the case demonstrated one of the strongest instances of parental alienation she had personally experienced from the bench.

Ultimately, the three children were sentenced to spend an undetermined amount of time at the juvenile detention facility. The Judge further held that only the children’s father was permitted visitation and that the children were to be kept as separate as possible for the immediate future.

The sad reality is that children often become involved in contentious divorces and custody disputes. While each family’s situation differs, children often are witness to the acts of their parents and develop some level of bias. It is imperative for divorcing couples to encourage a healthy relationship between the child and the other parent, keeping in mind the best interest of the child are what is most important.

If you and your spouse are fighting over your children, or if you have concerns about how filing for divorce might affect your children, please contact the Law Offices of Jay D. Raxenberg. Mr. Raxenberg has over twenty years of experience handling the most complex matrimonial and family law issues. Please call (516) 495-0565 or toll free at (888) 543-4867 today to schedule your complimentary consultation.