Procedural Harm: How Family Court Erases Parents Without Saying No
This series documents how family courts use process—delay, silence, cost, discretion, and exhaustion—to deny rights without issuing clear rulings, insulating the system from accountability while inflicting irreversible harm on children and parents.
A Rash of Parents Killing Their Children? Twenty-One Cases From 2025–2026 and What They Show
The article reveals a grim series of 21 filicide cases from January 2025 to September 2026, detailing parental violence against children in various states. Many families had prior contact with child welfare or mental health services, raising questions about systemic failures. Despite the alarming reports, evidence does not conclusively show an increase in filicides.
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 and an increase in domestic violence. The psychological toll on parents remains inadequately documented.
Today Is Parental Alienation Awareness Day. My Son Is 7. I Haven’t Had Parenting Time Since He Was 4.
On Parental Alienation Awareness Day, Michael Phillips emphasizes the disconnect between awareness and effective enforcement in family courts. He shares his painful experience of estrangement from his son due to parental alienation, highlighting the damaging effects on children and advocating for serious legal action to uphold court-ordered parenting time.
When an Allegation Becomes a Weapon
A Baltimore lawsuit challenges the use of protective orders in custody disputes, highlighting how allegations can disrupt family dynamics before being proven. It raises concerns about the impact of unproven claims on custody decisions and the balance between protecting victims and preventing misuse of the judicial system, emphasizing the need for procedural integrity.
Before Discovery. Before Evidence. Before the Truth.
Jeff Reichert’s federal civil rights lawsuit faces a potential early dismissal by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, raising significant questions about the legal system governing custody disputes. His case highlights the structural issues within family law, where rapid protective measures can lead to prolonged conflicts that adversely impact children, without offering sufficient avenues for accountability…
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 recognize its impact on parenting time and dynamics, resulting in one parent being marginalized without accountability.
When the Courts Catch Up: The Reckoning Over Medical Decisions Made for Children
A California jury awarded $2 million to Fox Varian, finding malpractice in a double mastectomy performed at 16. This ruling has catalyzed a national debate over minors’ medical consent, scrutinizing the responsibilities of professionals and institutions. It raises significant questions about parental rights and accountability in life-altering medical decisions for children.
Discretion Without Accountability
Family court decisions often lack transparency, as judges exercise discretion without providing explanations, leading to inconsistent outcomes and a lack of accountability. This opacity hinders parents’ ability to challenge rulings or appeal effectively, fostering an environment where uncertainty controls behavior and judicial oversight fails to address systemic issues.
Selective Enforcement
Family court orders often lack consistent enforcement, creating a two-tier system where compliance burdens the harmed parent. Violating parties can evade consequences, particularly those with resources, leading to a normalization of noncompliance. This selective enforcement undermines the legitimacy of the court, teaching contempt for the law rather than respect.
The Status Quo Trap
The article discusses how temporary orders in family court often become permanent due to inaction and procedural delays. While labeled as provisional, these orders can solidify over time, negatively impacting families, particularly children. The status quo benefits the party with established control, as adaptations are misinterpreted as consent, obstructing necessary changes.
When AI Lies to the Court, Families Pay the Price: Lessons From Pennsylvania
Artificial intelligence is being promoted to enhance access to justice for self-represented litigants, but a Pennsylvania scandal reveals its dangers. AI-generated errors in court filings, particularly affecting parents, lead to unfair outcomes and distorted law. Accountability and safeguards are essential to prevent AI from harming those it is meant to assist.
Justice Deferred Is Parenting Denied
Family courts often utilize delays as a strategic tool against parents, prolonging access to children and enabling ongoing harm. These delays create a status quo bias that benefits the controlling party, disproportionately affecting parents with fewer resources. Furthermore, they induce psychological tolls, misinterpret silence as disinterest, and reward misconduct, perpetuating systemic injustices.
You Didn’t Fail to Escalate. You Were Constrained.
Family court often unfairly assumes that parents should escalate their situations, disregarding the constraints they face, such as emotional and financial instability. This system rewards endurance over justice, leading to exhaustion and silence. The inability to escalate does not signify failure; it reflects systemic issues that hinder parental advocacy and well-being.
Trusted Until It Matters
The article highlights the inconsistencies in family court regarding claims of distrust between parents. It criticizes the system for accepting untested assertions of untrustworthiness, leading to unjust restrictions on parenting time. The impact on children is profound, as they suffer from parental absence due to selective narratives rather than actual misconduct.