What is the one thing divorced couples have in common? Ask any of them, and you'll find at least one member of the ex-couple is not happy with the way divorce is currently handled by the legal system. One organization, Men and Women Against Discrimination (MAWAD) is attempting to do something about that.

MAWAD bills itself as an organization attempting to level the playing field in divorce proceedings within a system that they feel is skewed. Among their complaints, they state that the system is favored towards those who can afford the best lawyers, which means that women are usually the ones at a disadvantage.

On the flip side, they also feel that men are disadvantaged when it comes to child custody. The current system automatically favors mothers unless the father can prove she is unfit. As well, they state that the current system is extremely susceptible to doctored charges of child abuse and domestic violence.

So here's what they are doing about it. To date, MAWAD has introduced legislation for the following:
1. 50-50 parenting, where each parent enters custody talks on an equal footing, with no assumption of who would "naturally" be the best parent
2. Open family court documents and decisions, making them part of the public record
3. Mandatory consequences for false allegations of child abuse or domestic violence
4. Mandatory consequences for denial of visitation rights and child concealment.

Interestingly, for this last point MAWAD is looking to have the penalties for denial of visitation and child concealment reduced. Currently these charges are automatic felonies, which has resulted in enforcement agencies refusing to press charges. They argue for a "3 Strikes" system where the charge would not be considered a felony unless it was the third occurrence. Hopefully, this would result in more charges being laid.

We all have a tendency to complain when we feel we are being treated unfairly, but it's refreshing to see an organization actually doing something about it. The current system is very adversarial, pitting parent against parent and making every issue one where someone "wins" and someone "loses". Perhaps if we removed the antagonistic nature from family court, people would be able to leave their egos at the door.

Click here for more.