Reviews (32)

Great information, Easy to read, Well organized
Remarkable. Because each case is so different it would be useless to present this information in any other form.

5 star easy!Highly recommended for its priceless content!
I wish someone would have recommended this book at the start of my divorce and custody dispute. This book is by far the best resource book for custody disputes and surviving a divorce. At first glance one would think that it is a bit expensive. However, once you receive it you will be thankful that you did. You could combine numerous other books in this genre and they would not compare to this single book. This book goes in depth without losing the reader. You will find yourself referencing it throughout your divorce and/or custody dispute. Chapters include: 1) Strategies to win custody 2)False Allegations 3)Evidence documentation 4)Grandparents5)Hiring a detective 6)Rights during visitation 7)Parental Alienation Syndrome 8) Conflict resolution 9)DNA Testing 10)Case Law and so much more! 640 plus pages. An incredible resource worth every penny! Robert Pedersen founder of www.fatherachildsright.org
Sloppy, but informative
There's a lot of good information in it, but it gets hard to read at times due to poor organization/editing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Divorce & Separation    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family Law - Children    4. Family/Marriage    5. Psychotherapy - Counseling   

Reviews (14)

Very Helpful
Well written, easy to understand with loads of advice and comfort for those going through the challenges of a custody battle.The author shares some of her own experiences and leaves you with a feeling of hopeful optimism.I consider this a must-read for any parent going through a divorce.I thought that her comments on dressing for court and behavior during separation were common sense, but perhaps there are some readers who would need to understand better how their image and demeanor affect a judge's perception of them as a parent.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone trying to gain custody of their children.

What Every Woman Should Know About Divorce And Cusody
This is the most thorough and informative book on divorce issues that I have read.As a divorce attorney, I am always curious to know what other attorneys are thinking. Ms. Smith's perspective and commentary mirror much of my own experiences and conclusions.The book is easy to read and filled with relevant, realistic examples and practical advice.I highly recommend this book to both nonlawyers, who have a reason to learn about this subject and to lawyers so they can refine and expand their knowedge of the divorce process.

What Every Woman Should Know About Divorce and Custody:
This book was a god send.It helped me with so many issues.I found it to be a true survival guide with advice that works.I purchased the book months ago when I was first separated.Now my ordeal is almost over but I still keep the book by my nightstand and refer to it constantly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Custody of children    2. Divorce    3. Domestic Relations Law    4. Family Law - Children    5. Family Law - Divorce & Separation    6. Family/Marriage    7. Law    8. Law and legislation    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. Legal status, laws, etc.    11. Popular works    12. Practical Guides    13. United States    14. Women    15. Family & Relationships / Divorce   

Reviews (15)

If you can only buy one book, this is it.
This book gives tons of strategies, not just definitions of most custody books, so if you can only afford one book, this is the one.
Michael Brennan is my attorney...
While struggling to find a decent attorney, I happened upon Michael's book in a libary. I arranged a meeting with Michael and ended up switching attorneys. I have had NO contact with my 4-year old daughter for the past seven (7) months... even with court orders for visitation. My case seems to be so complex, and unbelievable, that even attorneys such as Michael who write books on the subject find it difficult to believe.After months of trying to involve the police, DA, Attorney General of CA, and the FBI - with no success; Michael now seems to believe me and has successfully obtained an OSC forcing my wife and her attorney to explain why my daughter has been concealed. Interestingly, my case has moved from the original judge to the supervising judge on the family law panel. As the police in California will tell any father, "your rights as a father ended when your wife left and took your child."As the Attorney General's office will tell any father asking for help, "we don't even have enough resources to look for runaways...you will not find any help."The laws on the books don't matter when it comes to a mother sheltered by the corrupt CA legal system. Despite the hell I have endured, I believe in Michael's book and believe, despite my struggle, that he and his staff have the true best interest of the children in mind. The Family Law system in California is one of the state's "dirty little secrets".The mom-bias is extreme and outweighs "the best interest of the child" without the slightest consideration by accountable authorities of the facts in the matter. Read this book.Write a book.Fight for the thousands of innocent children who suffer every year from state-supported separation anxiety in California.

Practical information
Very nice feel for a self published book but the scope is limited and definitely from an attorney's point of reference.The opposition in my case must have been using this book exclusively. Good to have on your divorce/child custody book shelf. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Domestic Relations - Children    2. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    3. Family Law - Children    4. Family Law - Divorce & Separation    5. General    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Practical Guides   

Editorial Review

Jeffery Leving has spent more than a decade in the trenches of domestic law. From that perspective, he gives men embroiled in custody disputes a powerful and impassioned voice in Read more

Reviews (24)

Fathers and Men need to WAKE UP NOW
I felt compelled to write about this book after reading one of the reviews on it apparently written by a female.
Some good thoughts but overoptimistic
The author of this book certainly does not say anything that is untrue, even given the huge disparity of laws in the 50 states. However, on the front cover, among other things, he says you will learn how to:
Very informative
This book is a must read for all dads who are facing custody disputes of any type.Fathers are a very important part of a child's life and they should know how to fight to stay close and involved with their children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child custody    3. Civil Procedure    4. Custody of children    5. Divorced fathers    6. Education    7. Family & Relationships    8. Family Law - Children    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. Legal status, laws, etc.    11. Popular works    12. Practical Guides    13. United States    14. Law for the lay person    15. Private, property, family law    16. Separation & divorce    17. USA   

Reviews (2)

Very Dull
I am a Criminology and Criminal Justice student finishing my sophomore year this month. I have taken 7 different CCJ classes so far, and this textbook ranks among the most dry, dull, and boring CCJ textbooks I have ever had the misfortune to read. Even my Criminal Law text was better than this book was.
Dry, yet informative.
This book is one of the more wordy books I have ever read.The text isvery dry yet informative.If you suffer from insomnia, this is one cure, Iknow it was for me.In all seriousness, this is a relatively good book,though I feel the newer version is a lot better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Courts    2. Courts - General    3. Family Law - Children    4. Juvenile Justice Administration    5. Juvenile courts    6. Juvenile justice, Administration of    7. Law    8. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    9. Politics - Current Events    10. Politics / Current Events    11. United States    12. Political Science / Law Enforcement   

Reviews (13)

When you can Keep it Simple
This book tells you what you need to know in a simple, straight manner. If you situation is standard and you need a book to take you through the paces, this is what you need. Recommend resource.

Excellenct Book!
Expertly written. This is a very informative, play by play book. It outlines the real rules of the "Game". It provides detailed information for family members needing to understand the facts of how a custody case is decided, the players involved and who has the most impact on the case.
straightforward assistance for a sticky divorce
This is a handbook for divorce where child custody is involved.Well written, down to the basics advice. I have read several others and the author gives real instrucuctions, not theory.Mr. White understands the template of custody and demonstrates how to move the chess pieces.There's strategy and chronologies in this book I haven't found in other books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Custody of children    2. Evidence, Expert    3. Family Law - Children    4. General    5. Psychology    6. Self-Help    7. United States    8. Divorce settlements    9. Family & Health    10. Family & Relationships-General    11. Law-Family Law - Children    12. Self-Help & Practical Interests    13. Self-Help / General   

Subjects:  1. Children with disabilities    2. Estate Planning    3. Estates & Trusts    4. Family Law - Children    5. Law    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Legal status, laws, etc    8. Legal status, laws, etc.    9. Practical Guides    10. Reference    11. Services For The Mentally & Physically Challenged (General)    12. Trusts and trustees    13. United States   

Subjects:  1. Census And General Statistics    2. Criminal Law - General    3. Directories    4. Family Law - Children    5. Government - State & Provincial    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Reference    9. Statistics    10. U.S. State Government    11. Yearbooks & Annuals   

Subjects:  1. Child Advocacy    2. Children    3. Children's rights    4. Domestic Relations - Children    5. Family Law - Children    6. Law    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Legal status, laws, etc    9. Legal status, laws, etc.    10. Parent and child (Law)    11. United States    12. Constitutional & administrative law    13. Human rights    14. Law / Domestic Relations / Children   

Subjects:  1. Assessment, Testing & Measurement    2. Children of divorced parents    3. Custody of children    4. Family Law - Children    5. Forensic Psychology    6. Psychology    7. United States    8. Child welfare    9. Private, property, family law    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / Forensic Psychology    11. USA   

Reviews (4)

Rich man's expert
As a psychologist in private practice in Danville, CA specializing in child custody evaluations and well known in child custody circles as the "rich man's expert" he encourages you to use the services of an evaluator. It often takes more than 4 months and costs in California $1,500.00 per parent and up.
Complex Issues in Child Custody Evaluations
An absolute must for any mental health professional who does any custody related work, or any attorney who ever has, or might, handle a divorce casewith contested custody!Phil Stahl is one of the most coherent, literate anduseful writers in this area; he has the experience, the knowledge and agreat way of telling it all so that it makes a great deal of sense. Nolibrary is complete without this title!

What to know before you head into a custody evaluation
This book should definately be read by a lay person to obtain an understanding of the thinking in the custody evaluation process.An understanding of the family law process is a plus when reading the book. Generally, I found the book short of definitive guidance in the area ofcustody evalations and overpriced.Regardless of these shortfalls, thebook is worth reading and consulting before treading the murky waters of acustody evaluation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family Law - Children    2. General    3. Law    4. Social Work    5. Sociology    6. Family & Relationships / General    7. Family law    8. Social issues   

Reviews (2)

Don't waste your time/money - get a lawyer
I purchased this book to help file forms on a stepparent adoption.I submitted the form that was included on the CD "Petition to Terminate Parental Rights of the Alleged Father".To my dismay, they told me that I was using an "outdated" template, as the Civil Code 7409(a) that was referenced was repealed 10 years ago.I sought help from an attorney who told me that this is now under Family Code Section 7611.I do not trust the forms now, as I fear there may be other mistakes that I do not know of, as I am not an attorney.
An easy and at times fun way to save thousands on adopting
This book is wonderful for anyone who wants to adopt their spouse's child and has the consent of the other bio-parent (or other stipulation such as the death of the bio-parent, etc.). It not only provides needed forms, butalso has word-by-word examples of the documents you will need to typeyourself (for me, that was actually fun!) Additionally, if you live in LosAngeles as I did during the process, it gives you special instructions forfiling in L.A. county - very helpful! I had to pay only a $700 assessmentfee and 2 or 3 small filing fees and the whole process, from filing theinitial petition to the final hearing (which is especially enjoyable) wascompleted in under 4 months! And the experience brought me even closer toour 5 year old little girl as well as my wife! A lawyer quoted me legalfees of "$2,500 to $3,000, not including filing and assessmentfees" before I found this book. You will not only save money, but comeaway with an amazing sense of accomplishment and a renewed appreciation foryour family. I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Adoption And Adoption Services    3. California    4. Domestic Relations - Children    5. Domestic Relations Law    6. Family Law - Children    7. Forms    8. Law    9. Law and legislation    10. Legal Reference / Law Profession    11. Legal status, laws, etc    12. Legal status, laws, etc.    13. Reference    14. Stepchildren   

Reviews (7)

Mother's best interest or childs?
I have news for Deedra, it is just as humiliating, infuriating, and degrading for a father as it is for a mother. If women spent more time meeting the short and long term needs of their children they wouldn't be so wounded. Mother's start out on top with the legal system and usually end up on top. Deedra and the other women are heard by the legal system even when they whisper. It doesn't need to be a fight if everyone is concentrating on our children. Children need a mother and a father even if those people live in different homes.
Most Inspirational Book for Women!
This is the most inspirational child custody book I have seen. The 8 pages of Index allow women to find thir way through the legal and emotional battle. Personally, I think that custody is more of a parent's issue than a men against women issue. Although this book does not deal with unsual situations, it is worth the $10.00 price.

Cool, calm, professional advice.
I enjoyed this style of writing but would have liked more informatio on how to deal with the down and dirty dished out by the other side. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Custody of children    2. Divorce    3. Divorced women    4. Domestic Relations - Children    5. Domestic Relations - Divorce & Separation    6. Family Law - Children    7. Family Law - Divorce & Separation    8. Law    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. Popular works    11. Practical Guides    12. United States    13. Law / Domestic Relations / Divorce & Separation   

Subjects:  1. Child abuse    2. Child witnesses    3. Custody of children    4. Dysfunctional Families    5. Family Law - Children    6. Family violence    7. Interpersonal Relations    8. Law    9. Law and legislation    10. Legal Reference / Law Profession    11. Parental alienation syndrome    12. Australia    13. Domestic violence    14. Family law    15. New Zealand    16. Psychology & Psychiatry / Interpersonal Relations    17. Social welfare & social services    18. USA   

Subjects:  1. Children of divorced parents    2. Custody of children    3. Divorce    4. Divorce & Separation    5. Domestic Relations Law    6. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    7. Family Law - Children    8. Family Law - Divorce & Separation    9. Family relationships    10. Family/Marriage    11. Social Science    12. Sociology - Marriage & Family    13. United States   

Reviews (3)

Indispensable
For a non-custodial father, this book is tantamount to having a lawyer, a friend and a child-advocate at your becken call 24-7.

"Words From the Wise"
Thank you for writing this book!The author put a lot of experience and thought into his writing.The information in here surely saved me time, money and anguish from what would have been fruitless efforts.Thanks for carrying this Amazon.com.

The Best Fathers' Rights Book
This well written book covers every aspect of the issues surrounding fathers' rights.Every chapter in attorney Gross' book is right on point.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Family Law - Children    2. Fathers    3. Law    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Legal status, laws, etc    6. Legal status, laws, etc.    7. Parent and child (Law)    8. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    9. Political Science    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Popular works    12. United States   

Reviews (18)

From the horses mouth.
You can find some help-full suggestions in this self-serving book by a California judge, with contributions from a custody evaluator. But, you will have to look hard for something new and there are much better books listed on Amazon.
Read with a grain of sand....
I am very familiar with the courts in Santa Clara County (CA), having myself been caught up in a nasty custody battle (and other attendant battles) for 18 years.
California Custody Book
Judge Stewart does a good job of getting you started in the California court system (where I fought my first battle). The primary information is about parent's rights. Standard information such as a glossary and topics like child abuse, false molestation and how to select a lawyer are included. Worth the $12.00. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Custody of children    2. Family Law - Children    3. Family Law - Divorce & Separation    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Practical Guides    7. United States   

Reviews (8)

A Primer For Family Law Clients, Courts and Academics
As one who has read a number of books (both academic and popular)about custody, divorce and family courts, I found Andrew Schepard's book to be a unique and important contribution. It is both a comprehensive, well researched scholarly work and a clearly written and accessible primer for those new to the topic.
Child Focused Family Courts
This book does a great job of pulling together, in a very clear way, all of the important issues facing families and the courts that must address their problems. It is concise and accessible but also contains a wealth of cited resources for additional information.It provides the model for what a child focused Famliy Court should look like.

The Meeting of Minds and Disciplines
Schepard does what many professionals before him have only endeavored to do; he integrates the fields of law and psychology in one comprehensive resource written at a level accessible to the masses.Read more

Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Children of divorced parents    3. Custody of children    4. Divorce mediation    5. Family Law - Children    6. General    7. Law    8. Psychology    9. United States    10. English law: marriage & divorce    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    12. Separation & divorce   

Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Cases    3. Child abuse    4. Children    5. Family Law - Children    6. Law    7. Law and legislation    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Legal status, laws, etc.    10. Parent and child (Law)    11. United States    12. Laws of Other Jurisdictions & General Law   

Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Child custody    3. Custody of children    4. Family Law - Children    5. Family/Marriage    6. Law    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Popular works    9. Reference    10. United States    11. Advice on parenting    12. Family & Relationships / Reference