Fathers' Rights: A Legal Guide to Protecting the Best Interests of Your Children

Under the laws of this country, both parents have joint custody of their children unless a court orders otherwise. Whether you are divorcing or separating from the mother of your children, you need to know your rights as a parent-or face losing them.

Fathers' Rights takes a constructive and easy-to-understand approach to working within the legal system. This book walks you through the stages of litigation, from filing your pleadings, to presenting your case, to the judge's decision. In addition, it explains laws regarding child support enforcement, parental kidnapping, and other regulations designed to protect your children.

Fathers' Rights answers many of the emotionally charged questions you may be asking yourself right now. Questions like:

- What can I do if my wife has falsely claimed that I abuse my children?
- Can I still see my children if my wife tells me to move out?
- Do I still owe child support if I am not the biological father?
- Will I only be allowed to see my children on weekends?

Fathers' Rights is your guide to maintaining an important role in the lives of your children without putting them in the middle of a courtroom battle.

James J. Gross is co-founder and managing partner of the law firm of Thyden Gross and Callahan in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He has practiced family law and business law for 29 years. He has represented hundreds of fathers in their efforts to secure their parental rights.

Mr. Gross received his Masters of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University in 1982; a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri in 1975, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri in 1970.

Mr. Gross was named as one of the top divorce lawyers by Washingtonian Magazine in 2004. He appears frequently on television and radio in connection with fathers' rights. He is the coauthor of How to File for Divorce in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Mr. Gross writes the columns The Daily Answer Desk for DivorceNet.Com and In the Courts for ShagMail.Com. He is the Maryland legal expert for DivorceInfo.Com.

Mr. Gross teaches divorce classes at the Montgomery County Commission for Women and presents programs for other family lawyers through the Montgomery County Bar Association. He was recently a co-presenter on Shame as a Tactic in Divorce Trials at the Association of Family Courts and Conciliators.

He is on the Board of Directors of Affiliated Community Counselors, Inc. and the D.C. Capitols Track and Field Club, and was formerly the President of the Metropolitan Washington Mensa. He is a member of the Family Law Sections of the American, District of Columbia, Maryland, and Montgomery County Bar Associations. Mr. Gross is a trained mediator and collaborative lawyer. He is the co-founder and president of the Collaborative Family Law Society of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Gross, formerly in-house counsel to Satellite Business Systems and an attorney with the Federal Communications Commission, is rated AV by his fellow attorneys-the highest rating in Martindale-Hubbel.

He lives with his wife, Holly; two sons, Jake and Nicholas; mother-in-law, Alison; niece, Megan; Golden Retriever, Cowboy; and Himalayan, Xena; in Potomac, Maryland. He may be contacted at tgclawyers@smart.net or by calling 301-907-4580.