What the Defendant Admitted Under Oath
The Hornbeck deposition highlights the complexities of parental custody disputes in family court, where personal narratives often clash. Under oath, Sarah Hornbeck addressed significant past events, including a 2018 arrest and disputes over child…
Court of No Return: What Really Happens After CPS Takes Your Child
By Michael Phillips | Father & Co.Series: Family for Sale – Part 3 Behind the locked doors of America’s family courts, justice is not blind—it’s gagged. Once Child Protective Services removes a child from their home, families are swept into a shadow…
When You Can’t Afford a Lawyer: D.C. Courts Open a New Path for Parents Navigating Alone
In Washington, D.C., a new court initiative aims to support self-represented parents facing legal challenges, particularly in custody and support disputes. While it addresses accessibility, deeper issues of structural fairness remain, highlighting…
HB 942 and the Illusion of Enforcement
Maryland's HB 942 aims to criminalize custody order interference, acknowledging its serious impact on families. However, it faces challenges with enforcement, as law enforcement and courts may still prioritize discretion over accountability. True reform…
Silence as Strategy
The article discusses how selective silence in family court is often overlooked as a form of control. It emphasizes that this non-response blocks communication and coordination, creating power imbalances. Courts tend to trivialize silence, failing to…
Maryland’s SB481 and the Enforcement Illusion: When “Shall” Still Means “Maybe”
Maryland's Senate Bill 481 aims to address custodial interference by mandating additional visitation when interference is found. However, the lack of enforcement mechanisms and broad judicial discretion may hinder its effectiveness. Real reform needs…
Failure to Enforce
Many family court orders remain unenforced, leading to a collapse of rights for compliant parents. Courts prioritize new cases, while violators face minimal consequences, creating a disadvantage for those seeking enforcement. This erosion of trust…
When the Court Says “Enough”: What a Pennsylvania Custody Termination Case Reveals About Family Court Limits
The Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the termination of a mother's parental rights due to insufficient compliance with reunification efforts, emphasizing child welfare over parental rights. This case highlights the complexity of family courts, where…
When Family Court Proceeds Without a Parent, That’s Not “Non-Appearance.” It’s Exclusion.
Jeff Reichert's case highlights how family courts can proceed without a parent, effectively erasing them from the process due to denied accommodations for disabilities. A federal judge acknowledged the need for remote participation under disability law,…
Rebuttable Presumptions vs. the “Best Interest” Standard: What Actually Changes in Custody Law
Lawmakers are increasingly debating custody reforms centered around two main frameworks: the traditional “best interest of the child” standard, which allows judicial discretion, and newer rebuttable presumptions favoring equal parenting, which require…