North Dakota Shared Parenting for Kids Brings Important Divorce Issue to the Ballot

North Dakota Shared Parenting for Kids is a group of North Dakota residents — who wants an end to parental inequality from the court system.

This fall, North Dakota residents will have the opportunity to cast their vote on a pertinent divorce issue during the general election. Voters on November 14^th, 2014 will have the choice to approve or reject a measure to enact Shared Parenting throughout the state.

The initiated state statute, known as Measure 6, was put forth by North Dakota Shared Parenting for Kids—a group comprised of North Dakota residents who strongly believe parental inequality must be eradicated from the court system. The organization joins together individuals from a variety of backgrounds and life stages seeking to guarantee equal parenting rights for divorced mothers and fathers.

NDSP4K advocates that children of divorce should be entitled to the opportunity to retain a full relationship with both of their parents.

North Dakota Shared Parenting for Kids  and the Legal Implications of Measure 6

If approved, Measure 6 would amend section 14-09-06.2 of the North Dakota Century Code to function on the presumption that both parents in a divorce case are entitled to equal parenting rights and responsibilities, unless there is a clear indication to the contrary.

Measure 6 would require North Dakota courts to provide a definition of equal parenting time and adjust their decision-making models to protect parent-child relationships in divorce scenarios. For instance, courts would have to develop living arrangements that allow both parents to remain fully involved in the lives of their children.

Will There Be Enough Voter Support?

More than 15,000 signatures were collected this summer in support of enacting Shared Parenting in North Dakota. Among the numerous supporters of Measure 6 and NDSP4K are actors Jason Patric and Kiefer Sutherland. However, it is worth recalling that voters rejected a similar initiated state statute, North Dakota Measure 3, in 2006. The previous initiative was defeated with a final vote of 56.41% against its approval.

For more information about North Dakota Shared Parenting for Kids, visit the organization’s website.