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Basketball Player Shoots for Custody of His Children

| Dec 1, 2010 | Fathers' Rights

As we all know, celebrities experience their share of family problems especially when it comes to divorce and child custody. The news is riddled with tales of infidelity and secret children that can become intense court battles revolving around demands for financial support.

In some situations, someone will come forward after several years and claim that a wealthy man is the father of their child, often demanding child support. But for one Los Angeles Lakers basketball player, he is the one requesting a parenting plan.

In addition to his basketball career, Lamar Odom is also known for marrying socialite Khloe Kardashian. Though the two of them do not have any children of their own, Odom has two children from a previous relationship. This month he filed papers in court requesting a custody arrangement that would allow him to see his children. He is willing to pay child support as well.

Of course, celebrity custody battles are never drama free. The mother of the two children is surprised by Odom’s request because she claims he never wanted to see the children before. She wonders why the sudden interest; Odom’s schedule has brought him to the city where they live and he never made an effort to visit.

One of the issues the mother has stems from Odom’s public lifestyle. She wants her children to grow up out of the spotlight and believes that her parenting would be undermined because Odom is constantly on camera.

In many situations, men may not realize that they have a right to see their children, even if they were not married to the children’s mother. Many are recognizing the importance of fathers’ rights when creating parenting plans. Sometimes it is in the best interests of the children to give them time with their father, even if no relationship had been established.

There is no information yet as to the progress of Odom’s quest for custody. And despite a rocky start, hopefully his children will get a chance to spend more time with their father.

Source: New York Post online, “Khloe Kardashian’s hubby Lamar Odom suing ex-lover over ‘ignored’ kids,” Kathianne Boniello, 14 November 2010

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