Quote From: mfarrimondI have never felt so compelled to write as I do over this circumstance. I consider myself fair, and there is no fair in this mess! First, (as someone who worked in law for 22 years), I'm disgusted at Gloria A. You can promote the law, and justice, at the same time. She did neither! She is a disgrace to the legal profession and was obviously looking for a promotional opportunity.
Yes, Enrique was wrong for abandoning his daughter emotionally and physically and shame on him and his new wife for allowing that to occur. Shame on him for creating this abandonment in the first place and, seeing as how the new wife was the one bent on justice in the first place, shame on the new wife to allow this injustice to a child.
However . . . Enrique is NOT responsible for financial support and the biological father should be sought in this regard, including arrears (if not attached to the mother for her deceit). In fact, in the interest of healing these relationships, it is unconscionable that the mother (ex-wife) would even ask for child support; where do her interests "really" lie? In making amends to all parties involved or getting her child support check. She appeared a gloating, self-righteous woman who no doubt will cheat on her apparently kind hearted new husband. She is a disgrace to ALL women of respect and honor and should be put in her place and not allowed to make such smug and demeaning behavior.
PLEASE Dr. Phil get to the "real" background of this matter and tell the parties the truth that they need to hear (especially that dispicable mother). I see this mom as manipulative and conniving for money and wanting to be the sole love of these girls. I don't think she'll let Enrique make amends for his behavior. She'll get in the way of any healing these kids can do with their Dad (oh, and blame the lack of progress on him).
I completely agree with you here. The sad part to me is that the fathers feel forced to go to the courts and ask to sign off on their legal rights in order to not be punished for x amount of years in paying child support for a child that is simply not theirs. It is ludacrous that there are no laws to protect the rights of the children AND the innocent fathers. If there HAS to be a court order in place, it should be for visitation so that the mother cannot use the child as a pawn.
In my case, I know that my ex would have stayed in contact with the daughter he raised as his own. However, he didn't even make enough money to support himself. He dropped out of college to marry and support the girl that he "thought" he got pregnant so he was working blue collar jobs. He also started going back to college, which is extremely costly. After years of suffering and barely getting by, he should be allowed to move forward with his own life.
The ONLY way possible to get out of the child support was to sign over rights b/c the mother would NOT allow us to see the daughter anymore unless we PAID. The thing that makes me sick is that EVERY time that child came to us, she had clothes that didn't fit her. The mother spent every penny on herself and going out partying every night. I literally got sick when I was giving her a bath one night and she was wearing a size 5 panties...she was ACTUALLY a size 8. The band was cutting into her skin.
If we could have had the money to hire a top lawyer and fight for full custody, we would have in a heartbeat. We showed that child more love and support and attention than her own mother did. She told me all the time that she wished that I was her mother b/c I paid attention to her. It broke my heart.
People need to understand that it is NOT easy for the father to walk away. It is absolutely devastating. My ex became so depressed that he often thought about taking his own life. His purpose was ripped from him. He still continues to battle depression. The mother is the one to blame for everything. It is a crime and it should NOT pay.
That attorney that was on Dr. Phil made me SICK SICK SICK. I wanted to just slap her face she was making me so mad. She has no clue what these fathers go through. Yes, it is sad for the child, but let's get a legal system that says to a mother: YOU CANNOT DUPE INNOCENT MEN INTO PAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN OUT OF WEDLOCK!! Wouldn't that stop the problem? Then, if a man found out he wasn't the father, he would have the choice to be there emotionally and physically for the child. How can a man do that if the mother is threatening jail time for nonpayment of child support? It is absolutely insane that women get away with this and there are no laws protecting the innocent father.
I am so sorry my posts are so long. It just makes my blood boil and I could go on and on and on....
(Original Air Date: 10/29/07) Fraud. lies. conspiracy. They may sound like the latest Washington scandal, but these are allegations of exes at war over child support. Dr. Phil's guests claim they became victims of the perfect crime when they were led to believe they fathered a child that was not biologically their own and were forced to pay. First up, Enrique says he was shocked and angered to discover he was not the father of his youngest daughter, Selina, and that she was conceived during his ex-wife, Maria's, adulterous affair. Maria says he raised Selina but then abandoned her to save money. Why does Maria say Enrique's current wife is to blame for the fractured relationship? Next, 13-year-old Selina speaks one on one with Dr. Phil. Will she decide to let the man she once called Daddy back in her life? Then, Carnell Smith, who uses the online moniker, "Man4Justice," suffered a similar fate to Enrique, and but he fought and won. He says he's tired of seeing women trap men and get away with it. A heated debate ensues between him and feminist attorney, Gloria Allred, who argues that men like Enrique should continue to act as the father ... and continue paying! Talk about the show here.
