50 CENT DEFENDS LIMITED CUSTODY REQUESTS

Rapper 50 Cent has defended his child custody requests, insisting he only wants visitation ever other weekend because he wants minimum disruption to his son's education.

The 'In Da Club' hitmaker has been embroiled in a legal battle with his ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins over custody of 11-year-old Marquise for months, and now the former couple's legal spat will go before a judge on Monday.

50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - was reunited with Marquise last month after he accused Tompkins of "kidnapping" their son following a devastating fire at her New York home in May.

The star, who lives in Connecticut, has since been criticised for his request to spend just two weekends a month with Marquise - but the rapper insists he's simply taking his kid's schooling seriously.

Sharing Parents the Best Answer

The North Dakota Legislature held a meeting March 16 to hear issues relating to the child custody study.

The study committee was given a directive by the Legislative Council to only study other states' custody practices. This is not the directive passed by the Legislature, stating that the study was to cover custody, visitation and child support problems in the state of North Dakota.

Let Judge Decide What's Relevant in Custody Cases

In the best interests of the child …

These words should be the defining factors in cases involving parents and child custody issues. Let's face it, the kids have to come first.

But back in 2003 Virginia made a misstep, becoming the first and only state to prohibit the admission of almost all meaningful evidence in child custody and visitation cases regarding parents' mental health and their parenting strengths and weaknesses. This, despite the fact that Virginia law does require courts to consider the condition of parents in such cases.

Britney Spears' Child-Custody Hearing Held Without Her

Britney Spears' child-custody hearing was held Wednesday without the pop star, who showed up at the courthouse but abruptly left — prompting a court commissioner to uphold the order suspending her visitation rights.

Child Custody, Visitation Issues Discussed

The House Judiciary Committee began wading through a slew of bills Wednesday that are designed to ease disputes between divorcing parents, often catching their children in the middle.

Legislators have heard numerous tales from disgruntled and discouraged parents in recent years about child custody and visitation issues.

Various laws have been passed to offer solutions, but that piecemeal approach has not been successful, said Rep. Mike Vehle, R-Mitchell.