AB 1307 was defeated in the Assembly Judiciary Committee in May, 2005. To watch the video of the hearing, click here.
California AB 1307 creates a clear presumption that parents equally share in the responsibility of joint custody of their children unless there is clear evidence that it would not be in the children’s best interest. Thousands of our supporters called and wrote the Assembly Judiciary Committee to urge passage of AB 1307.
While California is more progressive than most states in its understanding of children's rights, in many California divorces children still see one of the two people they love most in the world pushed to the margins of their lives. AB 1307, sponsored by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton)and principal co-author Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield), AB 1307 protects children’s relationship with both parents by making it clear that parents come before the family law court with equal rights to and responsibilities for their children.
The current system creates unnecessary litigation and added conflict between parents as they jockey to position themselves in the most favorable light for the court. By equally respecting the bonds children share with each of their parents, AB 1307 encourages co-parenting and cooperation between divorced couples.
We recognize that there are some situations where joint custody is harmful to children, such as in cases which involve child abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse or other pathologies. We also recognizes that there are some situations where equal physical time between parents is not appropriate, such as when one parent's job requires them to travel extensively or be stationed far away from his or her children.
Yet research clearly establishes that shared custody creates better outcomes for children emotionally, educationally, and financially. We believe that in most cases children's interests are best served when their rights to have a relationship with both parents is protected.
Many prominent California mental health professionals and family law practitioners support AB 1307 and Shared Parenting.
Armed Forces Retirees Association of California
Santa Anna, CA
American Retirees Association
Redlands, CA
Bonnie Baker
Family Law Attorney
Redding, CA
Tasha M. Bolling
Family Law Attorney
Bakersfield, CA
Robert J. Brothers II, M.S.
Psychotherapist
Ypsilanti, MI
Deborah Sirotkin Butler, Esq.
Family Law Attorney
Arlington, MA
Steven Carlson, The Custody Coach
Child Custody Coach
Orange County, CA
Michael Carolla, LMFT
Co-Parenting Mediator
Pleasant Hill, CA
Ronald E. Champoux
Family Law Attorney
San Rafael, CA
Robert Anthony Cornejo, J.D.
School Principal, Attorney At Law
Montebello, CA
Dominic D'Urzo
Marriage and Family Therapist, Psychotherapist
Toronto, Canada
John Eisendrath
Executive Producer, ABC
Los Angeles, CA
Jay Essif
Licensed Psychologist
Lancaster, PA
Robert A. Fink, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Berkeley, CA
Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Florida International University
Miami, FL
Michael Friedman, M.D.
Board Member AFCC-CAL
Published High Conflict Custody
Berkeley, CA
Tom Golden, LCSW
Therapist
Washington, D.C.
Richard M. Green, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Regional Director of Neuro-oncology
Beverly Hills, CA
Scott Haltzman, M.D.
Psychiatrist
Barrington, RI
Mark Hamilton, Esq.
Family Law Attorney
Orange, CA
Dr. Lori A. Harral
Clinical Psychologist
San Diego, CA
Marsha Hohl, M.F.T.
A.F.T.E.R. Counseling Center
Sacramento, CA
Julia A. Jacobson, MPH
Beverly Hills, CA
Dr. Stephen Johnson
Marriage & Family Therapist
Beverly Hills, CA
Edward H. Lee
Family Law Attorney
Springfield, NJ
Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Tampa, FL
Stephen Lewis, J.D.
Private Mediator
Bakersfield, CA
Melvyn Lurie, M.D.
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Weston, MA
Jayne A. Major, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Breakthrough Parenting Services
Dewey Meyers, M.D., PhD.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
Fairfax, CA
Enrique A. Monteagudo, J.D
Child Advocate, San Diego Family Law Council for
Children
San Diego, CA
Dr. Linda Nielsen
Professor of Adolescent Psychology & Women's Studies
Wake Forest University
Winston Salem, NC
Tracy Nightingale
Attorney at Law
St. Louis Park, MN
Adryenn Ashley Neuenburg
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
IDFA Certified
Petaluma, CA
Michael L. Oddenino
Family Law Attorney
Arcadia, CA
Nicholas Palermo, Esq.
Family Law Attorney
Boston, MA
Denise Placencio, Esq.
Family Law Attorney
Los Angeles, CA
Kevin Polis
Family Law Attorney
San Diego, CA
Daniel W. Puls, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Whittier, CA
Christopher T. Roney, M.F.T.
Champlain, IL
Glenn Sacks
Columnist, Nationally Syndicated Radio Talk Show Host
Los Angeles, CA
Shari Schreiber, M.A.
Counselor
Los Angeles, CA
Lisa Scott
Family Law Attorney
Seattle, WA
Commander James Semerad
National Director, Navy League of the US
President, Metro Detroit Council
Detroit, MI
Judith Shaw, M.A.
Couples & Family Therapist
Mill Valley, CA
Robert Shaw, M.D.
Child, Family & Couples Psychiatrist
Berkeley, CA
Wendy L. Sheppard, MSW
Licensed Social Worker
Philadelphia, PA
Reena Sommer, Ph.D.
Therapist
Winnipeg, Canada
Gary Ventimiglia Ph.D, MFT
Psychoanalyst
Marriage & Family Therapist
Northridge, CA
Michelle Ventimiglia, MA
Early Childhood Educator
Northridge, CA
Karen J. Wagner, M.Ed.
Risk and Prevention Specialist
Advocate for Children
Marietta, GA
Marilyn Hawkins-Walls, B.S.H.S.
Child Visitation Monitor
Venice, California
Peter M. Walzer
Family Law Attorney
Calabasas, CA
AB 1307 was defeated in the Assembly Judiciary Committee in May, 2005. To watch the video of the hearing, click here.