Many in Nebraska are realizing that family law needs to be reformed. According to one citizen in the state, the single largest cause of fatherlessness is judges. Children who grow up in homes where their father is not present can be seriously affected -- and not positively.

Many judges continue to stand by the outdated parenting time agreement of two weekends a month. Some of the impacts that an absent father can have on a child include:

• More likely to use alcohol and drugs
• More likely to have long-term mental health problems
• More likely to have long-term physical problems
• More likely to live shorter lives
• More likely to engage in delinquency behavior
• More likely to attain lower levels of education

Family vacations are meant to be fun, but the first one after you go through a divorce might seem more of a challenge. If you are facing the first vacation since your split, you probably want it to be memorable for you and your children.

While you are planning your vacation, you do have some new things to think about. These are all matters related to child custody. Here are a few to consider to get you started:

Nebraska's Judiciary Committee has moved LB990 from committee and sent it to the Legislature. The bill's main topic is to prohibit juveniles who have been adjudicated for misdemeanor domestic violence or for felonies from having firearms until they are at least 25 years of age.

Should such a juvenile be found in possession of a firearm, he or she would face a Class IV felony the first time. After that, the charge would be a Class IIIA felony. The penalties for a Class IV felony include up to two years in prison followed by 12 months of supervision post-release, a fine of $10,000 or both. If there is a prison sentence, then the post-release supervision will be a minimum of nine months.

The time that fathers spend with their children is invaluable. It's very important for them to get this time together, even if the father and mother have decided to get divorced. The children still need that time with each parent.

Below are four main reasons that fathers must get adequate time with the kids:

1. Children feel important. They feel loved. They see that their father cares about being with them, and that makes them more confident and increases self-esteem. It often doesn't even matter what they do together. Just carving out that time helps.
2. Fathers learn about their children's abilities and development. This increases the quality of time spent together because fathers know what the children like to do, what they're able to do and what to expect.
3. Children grow up all too quickly. When the kids turn 18 and move out of the house, heading off to college, many parents wish they could go back and spend more time with their kids at five or 10 years old. They can't believe how fast it went by. Fathers need that time when the kids are young, because they can never get it back.
4. Fathers can help children avoid issues as they grow up. Studies have found, for instance, that young boy who grow up without a solid father figure are statistically more likely to struggle with aggression. This can lead to all manner of issues, from problems at school to criminal charges. Fathers who are present and engaged with their kids may, merely by being around, be able to help their kids avoid these problems.