The Ohio House passed a piece of legislation this month that would affect child custody issues that military personnel face when being deployed. The House Bill was created because parents who serve in the military were losing custody of their children while serving in another country.

The legislation would ensure that military parents would not lose custody of their kids simply because they were called into active duty. Existing custody orders would not undergo any permanent changes under the bill. Temporary changes could be made, but once the parent returns from active duty, the original stipulations of the custody agreement would be adhered to.

If the bill passes in the Ohio Senate, parent's can no longer fear losing custody if they are called to duty. And if a problem arises while they are out of the country, the bill also mandates courts to include that parent in the legal proceedings via current technology. Military personnel already have a lot of things to deal with; adding the stress of possibly losing a child because of something out of one's control seems unfair.

The bill also addresses the issue of contact between the parent and child while the parent is out of the country. While the other is away on duty, the custodial parent would be required to make sure the child and the on-duty parent can communicate, whether that be over the phone or even through the Internet.

Custody decisions are made with the children's best interests in mind. And while having both parents present in the country is beneficial for developing and maintaining relationships, those who support the bill believe the decision to serve one's country should not reflect negatively on that individual's ability to be a good parent.

Source: Hudson Hub Times online, "Bill would help enlisted military with child custody issues," Marc Kovac, 18 May 2011