BOOK REVIEWS

I wish this book had been around when I went through my contemptible experiences at the hands of the Family Courts. It would have helped explain what was happening to me. It could have been the clear, cool voice of knowledge, experience, understanding and sympathy that is necessary to take men through the grief and pain and loss of having their children taken from them simply on the basis of their being male - a very suspect condition if you're a father, at least in the blinkered, myopic, outdated and reactionary view of our legal hierarchy. This book is a timely, invaluable guide around the many hurdles and obstructions the Courts will put in a man's way to stop him being a dad to his kids. Read it and learn. Then try and change things so that children may know their dad loves them even if the law does not.

Sir Bob Geldof KBE (Comments on the First Edition)

Celia Conrad has a true understanding of a father's dilemma. This was the best money I ever spent!

James Smythe, London

Having made some enquiries about solicitors' hourly charge out rates and discovering that I would have to pay a minimum of £140.00 per hour in my area I calculated that this book would only cost me the equivalent of about 8.5 minutes of a solicitor's time. Let's face it - how much advice would you get in 8.5 minutes? Bearing in mind Fathers Matter was written by a former family solicitor who worked for some of the top firms in London my view is that this book is cheap at the price.

Martin Brookes, Hammersmith

Discriminated against by the legal system; bled dry by solicitors fees - fathers must read this book for knowledge and advice.

Alan Johnston, Scottish Fathers Rights Organisation

Fathers Matter has been an invaluable source of information for our programme.

S Feilden, Films of Record, Series Producer for the March 2010 BBC2 programme Who needs fathers?

I found Fathers Matter in my local library. I took out six books but this was the only one that was any good so I bought it. I recommend it to all fathers in this predicament.

M Rogers, Ewell

This book was a bargain. It's more than paid for itself with the money I've saved on lawyers.

R Hossein, Bradford

Every father should have this book. It answers all the questions we need to know.

M Bradley, Stafford

I wish I had had this book at the start of my case - it would have saved me thousands.

A Khan, Ealing

This book is so helpful and easy to read. It should be in every public library so that every father can refer to it.

B Campbell, County Antrim

National Society for Children and Family Contact highly recommends the book Fathers Matter- a guide to contact on separation and divorce by Celia Conrad. This is an indispensable and user-friendly step-by-step guide to all the issues relevant to any father seeking or trying to maintain contact with his children. The book covers all the pitfalls for fathers including how to avoid wasted legal costs by explaining how the family legal system works and its limitations for fathers. We at National Society for Children and Family Contact regard this as not only an essential guide, but one which genuinely will assist fathers and considerably reduce their legal costs by dealing with legal issues in a clear and constructive way.

National Society for Children and Family Contact

The best guide on the market!

Jonathan Masterton, Lewes, Sussex

Celia Conrad has made a complex and agonizing situation so much more bearable. Having a comprehensive guide to hold onto and steer a course is just marvellous. Dealing with real situations, and real problems in a real world, this book is written with real understanding by a person with real experience on the subject. It is an invaluable real help. Every father should have one!

J Angel, Glasgow

This work is judiciously balanced: it is thoughtful and practical, introducing a complex theme with lucidness and order. The ease with which the reader feels guided through this difficult territory is a tribute to the carefulness and wisdom of its writer.

Mr E Bigden, Suffolk

Celia Conrad is an clear authority on this topic and her mastery of detail is abundant throughout. Discussion about the rights of fathers in child custody debates has tended to be dominated by rather sensationalist news items on fathers in superhero costumes on bridges or Bob Geldof, so it was refreshing and informative to read a cool yet compassionate assessment of current legal practice. I recommend it highly to anyone going through these events.

Mr S Boughey, London

Books in this area tend to be either dry-as-dust legal tomes or splashy and imprecisely over-emotional attacks on or defences of the rights of fathers. Ms Conrad succeeds brilliantly in navigating the choppy waters between these reefs by presenting an excellent compendium of legal advice, common sense wisdom and compassionate insight that is always highly readable and engaging. It is a classic (and rare) example of how to put the precise needs of readers ahead of the vanity of authors.

Mr T Hochstrasser, Greater London

What a welcome to my bookshelf the new, revised version of this book has been. Recommended by a friend at a difficult time, when my marriage and family unit suffered irretrievable breakdown, Conrad's support for the father's side (without opposing that of the mother's) proved to be a lifeline to my progress, especially as I had already wasted considerable time and money out of ignorance of family law and how it works.

I needed a book which would clearly show my paternal rights and help me to prepare a legal case to clarify my rights over my children. I looked at quite a few books, several written by dads who had been through similar turmoil, but they only offered emotional support where this lawyer/author offered considerable legal substance in additional to the emotional.

Set in three parts and written in easy, understandable English, it is comprehensive, concise and in no way condescending. Part one considers the effect of separation on children and fathers, where so often books seem to favour those of the mother and children. Part two is right up to date on current issues and changes to the law with additional sections- publicity and coping with the stress of going to appeal were especially helpful in my case. Part three brings the author's expertise to the fore as she discusses reform and looks forward to the need for change. Her sensitivity throughout is commendable.

In all, as a total 'dad friendly' package, it reassured me in times of doubt, bolstered my confidence to proceed, and assisted my knowledge and understanding at a very difficult time of my life. Needless to say, my own outcome was positive and my rights to the children have been fairly secured, in no small part due to this book. It is the only piece of literature you will need; an absolute find!

Mr H Grant, Shropshire

DISCLAIMER: This website supports the publication Fathers Matter - the essential guide to contact on separation and divorce by Celia Conrad only.
It is neither the front for an organization nor part of any organization and has no connection with Fathers Matter Family Rights Group and any other organization or entity carrying or using the name Fathers Matter. We are publishers and do not offer legal advice.

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