by Dogpatch 9 Replies latest jw friends
I am getting a lot of emails and calls from people who want legal help or counsel because they are divorcing a JW (or vice-versa) and they need help.
I know Duane Magnani and Bill Bowen, and recommend them at times, but I am looking for others who might be good referrals as well. If you have had a good experience with someone, please email me (don't respond here please) [email protected].
yours,
Randy Watters
He doesn't post here anymore but there was some great stuff in Corvin's post history.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/126156/1/JW-Children-Lie-in-Custody-Cases
Hi Randy,
Long thread but some pertinent info here.
CoCo
For those in Ohio someone can track down the attorneys representing the father in the lower court mentioned in the Pater v. Pater summary here. They in turn might know of lawyers in other states. If it is a published decision those names should be listed there. Or a quick call to the clerk of the court might provide that information.
http://www.katzfamilylaw.com/lawyer-attorney-7F24EF5E-1495-441C-97E83C5961B7238E.html
Pater v. Pater: Are restrictive religious customs harmful?
In Pater v. Pater, 63 Ohio St. 3d 393, 588 N.E. 2d 794 (1992), Ohio's Supreme Court ruled that religious customs that restrict a child's social activities -- even if they separate him or her from peers or go against community standards -- are not enough to justify court intervention unless the practices harm the mental or physical health of the child.
In the Pater case, the child lived with her Jehovah's Witness mother after the parents split. A court later awarded custody to the Catholic father because of the mother's religious practices, including her refusal to celebrate holidays, associate with people outside the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, salute the flag or sing the national anthem.
Ohio's highest court reversed the lower court's decision and granted custody to the mother. The court held that the mother's religious activities -- which essentially barred her child from participating in many social and patriotic activities -- did not adversely affect the child's mental or physical health.
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These people might have retained counsel who know other counsel. They work that way.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/292067?m=8ef6a43a
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Tim Kosnoff might know someone in the Seattle area or outside the state. Often these attorneys network.
http://www.kosnoff.com/PracticeAreas/Jehovahs-Witnesses.asp
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It is a state by state issue, but they can call their local bar association which sometimes offers recommendations and knows who is who. Hope this helps.
JD II
http://www.144000.110mb.com/
In Australia try http://www.austlii.edu.au/. Type Jehovahs in the search. There are lots of cases about child custody and it's eye-opening how judges, etc, view the machinations and motivations of jws.
Beachwalker
There needs to be state by state list, I think Duane had one going but I know in my state one had quit taking jw cases. He didn't put it that way but that was the gist of it.
Wow, hadn't even thought of this as an issue, though its probably pertinent to me. However as my ex has had nothing to do with myself or the children in well over a year, I doubt him being a JW by name would let any court of law grant him custody (not that he's tried - he hasn't). Thanks for the information :)
They really shouldn't limit themselves to lawyers who take JW cases because any good competent family lawyer can get up to speed on the issues and handle the case. And just because one lawyer holds himself out as one who handles or specializes in JW cases doesn't mean he/she is any good.
Thank you for all the comments so far!
Randy
