The Warrant Nobody Checked
A forged custody order almost led to a child being taken from Maryland. St. Mary's County deputies recognized irregularities in the document and called the issuing court, discovering that it was fake. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in interstate…
The Order Nobody Signs For: How Protective-Order Extensions Can Outrun Service
Temporary protective orders serve as a critical bridge between emergency situations and formal hearings, relying heavily on the effective service of process. When service fails, respondents may be unable to contest orders, leading to potential injustice.…
The Ledger Nobody Kept: What COVID-Era Guidance Did to Custody
The pandemic's impact on custody and family courts has been significant yet largely unquantified, as seen in the backlog of cases and the misuse of COVID-19 as a pretext in custody disputes. This situation was exacerbated by inconsistent court operations…
When the Loss Has No Name: What Research Says About Being a Targeted Parent
The article discusses the concept of ambiguous loss, particularly experienced by parents facing parental alienation. This type of grief lacks rituals, leaving parents feeling isolated and unable to properly mourn their relationship with their living…
When “I Wish They Were Gone” Becomes a Blueprint: What the Research Says About Hostility and Parental Alienation
The article by Michael Phillips explores the complexities of parental alienation in family court settings, highlighting the prevalence of hostile parental dynamics and their impact on children. It emphasizes that while parental alienation is common, it…
The Force Multiplier
The family court system overlooks the specific needs of disabled children in custody disputes, failing to recognize how coercive control impacts their well-being. These children face heightened risks of abuse, and current legal reforms neglect their…
The Credibility Gate: What Kyra’s Law Actually Does — and the Provision Nobody Is Covering
Kyra's Law has been framed as either a landmark child safety bill or an invitation to false allegations. The legislation is more complicated than either narrative. Hidden inside is a major expansion of appellate rights for parents facing temporary…
The System Let Her Down First
Aaron Spencer's murder case was dismissed because critical evidence was mishandled. But the larger question remains: why was a man accused of dozens of child sex offenses able to violate a no-contact order and reconnect with his alleged victim in the…
Fighting Through It
The article discusses the consequences of dismissing a father's illness within legal proceedings, as exemplified by the author's experience with pneumonia and a high-conflict separation. Despite medical documentation, his former partner accused him of…
The Same Tools
The article explores how tactics used in controlling marriages transition to family court, impacting custody cases. It highlights four parents' experiences, demonstrating a structural failure of family courts to recognize coercive control patterns. The…