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The Present Tense Problem
A Pennsylvania Superior Court ruling determined that grandparents lack custody standing if no parental custody case is currently open, even after years of a consented relationship. This decision, stemming from the McGuire case, emphasizes the…
Child Safety & AdvocacyCourt & CustodyFamily Court & Child WelfareFamily Court WatchFamily Policy & CourtsJudicial Non-Enforcement & Due ProcessLaw, Policy & the FamilyMarylandMaryland Child Welfare & Foster CareMaryland Domestic ViolencePolicy & ReformProject GUARDIANProject STEWARDSHIPProject SYSTEM
The System’s Two Speeds: Maryland Moves Fast to Take Custody, Slow to Answer for It
July 12, 2026
Four Maryland cases reveal a troubling pattern: the state moves quickly to remove children from parents but far more slowly when government agencies or courts are held accountable.