Several years ago, a friend of mine would often get frustrated with our discussions. I would complain about how crazy family court is and how archaic the domestic relations laws are.

He would tell me, “If you don’t like the law, CHANGE IT!

That’s exactly what we are doing.

When you get married in New York, or any other state, there is a contract you agree to. It’s similar to the terms and conditions we consent to when we sign up for some online service or app. It’s incredibly complicated and it’s full of legalese.

Very few of us read these contracts. It’s too bad because we should know what we’re getting into, whether it’s an app or a wedding.

We all know marriage and children are big decisions, but we don’t really know how much of a business and legal contact marriage reality is. We tend to discover this reality we get divorced or someone wants to leave you and take the kids.

It took me 17 years to begin the process of reading the marriage contract with New York State. I should have read it long ago; before I had a kid and got married. If I knew then what I know now…

I met these two gentlemen yesterday-Nic Miller and Frank Hand. All three of us are working together in conjunction with several other advocacy groups to update the DRL and bring our state into the 21st century. We had a great meeting and seem to be on the same page.

Hopefully we make New York the progressive place they say it is.

 

“In 2017, Kentucky passed the nation’s first true shared-parenting law. It was the state’s most popular law of the year. In addition to its popularity, since the law went into effect, it has helped decrease conflict in family court. The law is effective and extremely successful. Family court filings are down 11 percent, and domestic violence claims are down 445 cases.
Why is Kentucky, a conservative “red” state, more progressive than a state like New York? Are we truly progressive in this state or are we interested in preserving the status quo?

It’s time for the New York State Legislature to look past the special interests that benefit from our broken family court system. We should be focusing our attention on what children want and need — as much time as possible with both loving, fit, and caring parents.

If we don’t push for what’s best for our children, we are giving into the desires of special-interest groups who are fighting to protect the outdated system we all know hasn’t worked. If we don’t change our law and customs and do what’s right for our children, we are essentially rallying against our children and propping up a system that works only for those who benefit from continuous conflict.

Assemblyman Chris Tague’s bill A09819 should have bipartisan support. Call your local representative and ask them to support this new legislation that will show just how “progressive” New York can be.”

Read the OpEd I wrote HERE: https://altamontenterprise.com/02282020/without-joint-custody-children-are-biggest-losers

Clayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University’s School of Business and is a 25 year veteran of the fast paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in a number of hit Broadway musicals including “Tick, tick…BOOM!,Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical and Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill. In addition, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.

Clayton is the chair of the New York chapter of the National Parents Organization and is focused on promoting shared parenting, where both parents have equal standing raising children after a separation or divorce. He is writing a memoir and writes for various local and national publications.

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