The Access Gap AI Was Supposed to Close — And What It’s Opening Instead
A recent appellate court case highlighted issues with AI-generated citations in custody matters, revealing a trend where self-represented litigants submit filings containing fabricated legal references. This problem threatens the grace doctrine, which…
The Second Access Tax: How Family Court Privatized the Cost of Parenting
The article examines the concept of the "Access Tax" in American family court systems, highlighting how financial burdens are disproportionately placed on parents, particularly during custody disputes. Costs escalate due to systemic incentives benefiting…
Same States, Two Standards: The Custody Enforcement Gap Guardianship Reform Exposed
The article compares how different states address custody enforcement for children when a parent faces immigration-related detainment or deportation. Some states, like D.C. and California, allow immediate guardianship without judicial oversight, while…
What to the Parent Is the Fourth of July?
On America's 250th birthday, Michael Phillips critiques the family court system, arguing it fails to protect parental rights, a fundamental liberty. He highlights discrepancies in legal protections between parents and individuals in criminal cases,…
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…
Equal Custody Becomes the Starting Point
Mississippi has become the sixth state to adopt a rebuttable presumption of equal physical custody in child custody cases, effective July 1, 2026. Under House Bill 1662, courts must assume parents share custody 50-50 unless evidence shows otherwise. The…
When the System Moves Fast: Child Support Gets DHS. Parenting Time Gets a Court Date.
Argentina has collaborated with U.S. authorities to bar 13,000 fathers who owe child support from entering World Cup venues, showcasing a robust enforcement system for financial obligations. In contrast, U.S. family courts lack similar mechanisms for…
Venezuela Has Lost Children to Disaster Before. It Still Hasn’t Built a System to Stop It.
A mother's account of losing her daughter during a chaotic earthquake rescue in Venezuela highlights the country's historical failures in child protection. Past disasters have left many children untracked and vulnerable. With recent earthquakes affecting…
No Transcript, No Appeal, No Accountability: How the Court Reporter Crisis Is Erasing Family Court Records
Millions of family court hearings are being conducted without reliable transcripts, leaving parents unable to challenge judicial errors on appeal. A New York case has exposed a crisis that extends far beyond one courtroom.
Now You Know, Pete
Pete Buttigieg shared a harrowing experience with Child Protective Services following a false allegation, emphasizing the emotional toll of such encounters. While he was quickly vindicated, he highlighted that many parents endure prolonged struggles…