A Father’s Struggle for Justice and Shared Parenting
In June 2004, my son’s mother and I divorced after knowing each other since 1992. Later that year, I reconnected with my daughter’s mother, whom I had first met in 1990. We reunited in November 2004, began living together in January 2005, and welcomed our daughter in 2006.
We became engaged in Paris in October 2007, but by June 2008 our relationship ended. I moved out and focused on my career, my son, and family responsibilities. As a District Sales Manager for a multinational company, I traveled internationally during the week, leaving weekends as my only time with my children. Despite the breakup, my daughter’s mother and I remained friends, and I continued to share time with my daughter until her second birthday in October 2008.
That day, after celebrating together as a family, her mother told me: “Since she didn’t need her father, Zoraya doesn’t need you.” From that moment, she began denying me access to my daughter.
Court Battles Begin
In October 2008, I was served with a Temporary Restraining Order. At the hearing, both of us admitted to Judge Don S. Cohn that there had never been any acts of domestic violence. The petition was dismissed for “No Just Cause.” Yet, the court failed to address how I would continue seeing my daughter, leaving me in limbo.
Determined to secure my parental rights, I filed a paternity suit in December 2008, requesting child support, shared parental responsibility, and reasonable time-sharing. Despite this, my daughter’s mother continued filing restraining orders, supported by fabricated police reports and false allegations.
Judicial Missteps and Alienation
In February 2009, Judge Dennis ordered both parents to attend Family Court Services for co-parenting and alienation intervention. Days later, another restraining order was filed against me. Despite evidence and witnesses proving the allegations false, Judge Brennan imposed a one-year “No Contact” order.
This decision devastated me. I lost my job due to the excessive court orders and the impossibility of balancing compliance with my professional responsibilities. More importantly, I lost precious time with my daughter.
A Fit Parent, Denied Normal Parenting
After years of hearings, supervised visitation, and thousands of dollars in legal fees, the Final Judgment in July 2010 confirmed that I am a fit parent. It granted shared parental responsibility and child support obligations. However, “normal and reasonable” time-sharing was conditioned on compliance with every court-ordered program, despite no evidence that I was ever a danger to my child.
Meanwhile, my relationship with my son remained strong and uninterrupted, proving that I am a loving, responsible father.
The Larger Issue: Parental Alienation
My case highlights a broader problem: parental alienation and the misuse of restraining orders to sever a child’s relationship with one parent. Despite compliance with every order, I continue to face barriers to being part of my daughter’s life.
This is not just my story — it is the story of countless fathers and mothers who are unfairly denied meaningful contact with their children. Family courts must recognize that shared parenting is not only fair but essential for the well-being of children.
Persistence in the Face of Opposition
The opposing party has complained to the Court that I filed three petitions: the initial paternity suit and two follow-up petitions for modification. That is correct — and so what? It is my right to file petitions when there are substantial changes, and there have been.
The Court and the opposing party should know by now that I will never give up on my daughter. I will file as many petitions as necessary to ensure she has a normal relationship with her father. Instead of criticizing me, they should reflect on their reckless disregard for the harm they have caused Zoraya and me.
A Family Court Services Report dated January 29, 2013, regarding 12 supervised visits, stated:
“After greeting, Mr. Inguanzo immediately engaged Zoraya in conversation and play. Father and daughter discussed different topics such as school, science, books, a trip to France, physical education, Zoraya’s older brother, and other relatives, holidays, etc. Mr. Inguanzo also practiced speaking Spanish with Zoraya. Mr. Inguanzo frequently demonstrated physical affection, to which Zoraya allowed and reciprocated. Mr. Inguanzo displayed behaviors indicative of being nurturing, patient, and attentive to Zoraya’s needs. Zoraya appeared to enjoy her father’s company. Zoraya and her father displayed a very good level of interaction.”
This report, authored by Ms. Laura Escober, L.C.S.W., with observations from Ms. Maria Puentes, M.S.W., and Mr. Rafael Castro, Ph.D., confirms the bond between father and daughter. Yet, I have not seen or spoken with Zoraya since January 24, 2015.
This is how the system has failed my daughter. It is why this blog was born — to expose the injustice and to fight for the day when the Court finally recognizes the opposing party’s intentional interference and restores my rightful place in Zoraya’s life.
A Call for Reform
Much of what I have enjoyed most in life is being threatened by governmental actions that fail to protect our God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those entrusted to safeguard families are, in many cases, doing the opposite.
It is time to stand up against parental alienation and demand fairer family laws. Children deserve relationships with both parents, free from manipulation and false allegations. Judges and lawyers may come and go, but parents remain constant in their children’s lives.
I continue to fight for justice in my case (Case No. 2008-029595, 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida). My daughter deserves to know her father, and I will never stop being there for her.
