What “Parental Rights” Leaves Out
Defending Education's RISE report ranks states on parental rights, focusing on school transparency and sex education laws. Tennessee and Alabama top the list, while Illinois ranks last. The report, however, neglects to address custody laws, leading to…
“Worth It”: When a Custody Order Isn’t Enough to Save a Child
Jake Stoner went to court, won emergency custody of his infant son and reported the violation when the boy disappeared. Weeks later, an employer’s background check found the mother before the child-recovery system did. By then, it was too late.
Maryland Proclaims a Month for Collecting. Not One for Showing Up.
Maryland has declared August 2026 National Child Support Awareness Month, praising its support enforcement system. However, the article critiques this approach, highlighting a lack of similar enforcement measures for parental access issues. The disparity…
The Contact Nobody Compels
The disparity in enforcement mechanisms between child support and parenting-time orders highlights systemic issues in U.S. family courts. While child support enforcement is robust and federally mandated, access rights lack comparable structures. This…
The Boys Nobody Budgeted For
The article discusses two contrasting perspectives on the challenges faced by boys and young men, emphasizing that policy decisions have disproportionately affected them in education, discipline, and mental health. Key issues include lenient due process…
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 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…
Child Welfare Selective Service
The article critiques politicians' lack of urgency in addressing family court issues that result in children being separated from fit parents while they express concern over immigration-related separations. It highlights the systemic dysfunction in…
Still Here: The Intake Form
In April 2026, a father discovers his son Dylan has been in therapy for a year without his knowledge. Following the separation from Dylan's mother, he gained access to the therapy process, emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in mental…