What
You Can Do To
Make
a Difference!
YOUR PRIOITY ACTION ITEMS
Steps EVERY individual
can and should take
1)
Write your story: 1) first version can be
as long as you want, 2) second copy must be reduced to
two pages to appeal to your legislators, and the media. Know your case better
than anyone! (CPR volunteers can help). Your story is so overwhelming with so
many details, it is easy to forget. It is also difficult to know what is
important to who (attorney, county, judge, etc).
Documenting your story in writing will help save you time and money. When you
visit your attorney and slowly try tell the story, you
are charged for this time. It is more efficient if your attorney can read all
about it. You can also turn in your story to your legislator and media.
2)
Become
more complete in your documentation:
a.
Organize
all your paperwork, legal documents in a three ring binder by date or topic
(divorce, custody, child support, modifications, OFP, etc)
b.
Save
everything from the county � even the envelopes to show the date the item was
mailed
c.
Tape
record all telephone conversations with you ex
3)
Contact your legislator � make an appointment,
help them understand how current law has negatively impacted your life and
therefore the life of your children (CPR person can go with you) � find out how
willing they are to support the RIGHT family law reform. How will they vote?
4)
READ MN Law Chapter 518 and familiarize yourself
with the Minnesota Statute that affects you: The entire Chapter 518 applies to
child support, and 518.551 specifically applies to the
guidelines.
5)
READ MN Law Chapter 256 if your case has any public assistance attached to
it
6)
READ MN Law Chapter 257 if your case is a non-marital paternity or ROP
(recognition of parentage) case
7)
Contact
your county commissioner � find out when public testimony
will occur in your county regarding the county budget; get scheduled to
testify; (notify CPR to testify on your behalf), OR meet with your
commissioners one-one-one.
8)
Learn
how to file formal complaints against anyone in the system who
has caused you harm and seemed to violate the law or ethics as you know them:
a.
GAL
(Guardian ad Litem)
b.
Judge/Referee/Magistrate
c.
other
9)
Contact the media: local newspapers, metro newspapers,
magazines, radio, magazine, anyone and everyone who will listen. Write letters
to the paper � do whatever you can to spread the word on the injustice.
10)
Volunteer on a CPR committee where you can maximize
your talents based on the time you have available. You get to know the �inner
circle� of people in CPR who have a wealth of knowledge to share and for you to
learn from.
11)
Become a member of CPR � get your name on the CPR �interested citizen� list
(our disciples) to ensure you get weekly update emails and help
us mobilize people into a large �army�; support the effort to help finance
minimal operational needs
12)
Make 6 contacts at CPR � so you have people you can
call and ask for advice and recommendations for relief in your case � most
non-custodial parents look back at all the mistakes they have made and they are
eager to share what they have learned to people new in the system to help
others prevent mistakes.
13)
Make sure you
ask a lot of questions from others who have gone through the
system, and be aware of the most common mistakes that others going through
this make, which� include (see
information is power brochure � make this change�.):
a.
Trust that the system and
judges will be fair � instead, know that the system is very unfair and biased.
b.
Don�t document everything �
don�t save and file everything for easy access and reference
c.
Didn�t fight for full custody from
the beginning � gave up custody too willingly to become a �visitor� or left
only with �parenting time.�
d.
Didn�t argue constitutional issues
from the beginning
i.
To parental rights
ii.
To privacy rights
iii.
To due process (failed to challenge
assignment of rights on the IV-D application)
e.
Don�t file a 1301 d
objection right from the beginning
f.
Bad attorney decisions:
i.
Didn�t make sure
the attorney was really fighting for you and allowed the attorney to just push
you through the system without fighting for your parental rights
ii.
Expected the attorney to
somehow know more about your case than you do
iii.
Didn�t make sure the
attorney understands IV-D
g. Didn�t challenge the OFP within 10 days and it became albatross
forever
h. Didn�t know your legal rights according to the law
i.
Didn�t make a partial child
support payment the months when the full payment was financially impossible
j.
Wanted to �just get things
over with� no matter what the negative effect on you
k.
Challenge the subject
matter jurisdiction on IV-D cases when there is no compelling state interest
l.
Unprepared for Court:
i.
Fail to proactively provide
proper affidavit of work history � its not just a matter of the last few
paychecks � your work entire work history is relevant to prevent you from being
labeled voluntarily underemployed, which results in misapplication of� imputed income by the county
ii.
Think that if you go to
court and �tell� the judge your side of the story, everything will get heard
and the judge will �know� you are right and make a �fair� decision � instead,
you must know that what you say is meaningless unless you have some kind of
written proof and documented evidence to support your claim.
m. Didn�t share your problems and issues with other people � who
might be able to help lead you to someone who can actually help � kept problems
to yourself
n. Didn�t file a perjury charge when the ex lied about you and you
have evidence to prove the lies
o.
Didn�t file a charge of
Deprivation of Parental Rights (which is a felony) when the ex prevented you
from your visitation with your child(ren).
p. Don�t find the proper balance of communication with the
caseworker: the case worker is not your friend, but you can�t treat them like
the enemy or they will retaliate against you
q.
Don�t take arrears
seriously and don�t understand the power of the government to enforce the
obligation and initiate extremely punitive measures
r.
Don�t always have a third
person (preferably grandparent or girlfriend) with you whever
you have contact with a potentially resentful ex�you need to witness so you
aren�t accused of something you didn�t do�when it becomes your word against hers..the woman always wins.
s.
Other? Share what you have
learned to grow this list for others.
14)
Ask for help from CPR � as we currently juggle a
long waiting list of people needing guidance in their individual case; we
recommend you be persistent in your efforts to get assistance �
help us know how we can help you! (we are growing and evolving to provide the
services you need) � email repeatedly to ensure your needs get met
15)
Let
CPR know when your hearings are and we will most on the website as a COURT WATCH � the more people
there for you the better. Attend other people�s hearings as well to help
increase your comfort level in the courtroom, so it is not so intimidating.
16)
Sign
up for the yahoo family law reform group as an informative
and therapeutic tool to learn from other people
17)
Keep
tracking the updates on the CPR website � we are building
a powerful information source � hoping to provide a one-stop shop for all
issues
a.
When
you find things you think others should know about, email info@cpr-mn.org and we will make sure it gets
on the website for others
18)
File
a 42 USC 1301 d Objection in
your case
19)
Keep
coming back it works � Attend general monthly meetings and BRING
PEOPLE WITH YOU: The general meeting is for non-custodial parents,
friends, family members, paternal grandparents, second wives and girlfriends,
employers, legislators, and anyone else
who is concerned for the non-custodial
parent and the impact on the fractured family. The meetings are always held
the third Sunday night of every month. Spread the word � help us reach our 5000 members
needed to effectuate legislative change.
20)
Continue
to tell
us what you need for CPR to be an organization that will effectuate
change in a way that is helpful to you!
�Having
canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this He set
aside, nailing it to the cross.� Colossians 2:14
CPR Vision
Statement: An inter-denominational, faith-based,
bi-partisan, gender-neutral, tax-exempt public policy and educational
organization to protect the civil rights of both parents to protect the
children.
CPR educational
booklets are updated regularly. If you have suggestions on how to improve this
brochure, please notify us. For current release of this brochure, visit our website.
CPR educational
booklets do not purport to give legal advice. The information contained herein
is general in nature; individual circumstances will always vary. We recommend
you consult an attorney for legal advice and legal representation.
CPR
is in the process of applying for non-profit status, CPR is currently under
umbrella of tax-exempt 501 c(3) organization,
Providence House
�
2004 may be copied by permission only � derivative works or reproductions are a
violation of copyright without prior authorization from CPR
Educational Booklet: MD #04-01
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
The purpose of this informational series to help you position and present yourself in a way that will result in a greatly likelihood of the result you want. This series will help position you to make a difference for your personal case and for the cause as a whole, as you help to advocate for change to prevent others from having to go through what you have. This is a series of empowerment � how to take your energies, time, and talents and help facilitate social change.
Prepared
By:
CPR
Center
For Parental Responsibility
CPR
Voicemail: 651/490-9277
Website:
cpr-mn.org
Email:
Latest Update: January 17, 2004