The System Has a Business Model. These Books Prove It.
The post presents a reading list for parents seeking to understand the family court system's mechanics and how it impacts children. It highlights several books that explore themes of corruption, profit-driven practices, and systemic failures within…
The Closed Loop: How AFCC Captured Maryland’s Family Courts
Michael Phillips highlights a persistent issue in Maryland's family court system, where court-ordered communication through platforms like OurFamilyWizard fails due to lack of enforcement against non-compliant parents. This situation reveals a systematic…
The Closed Circuit
The content discusses the systemic issues within family courts that undermine the efficacy of documentation provided by targeted parents. It highlights the influence of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) on custody evaluations and…
The Other Side Writes the Order. Here’s Why That Should Concern You.
In California family court, the attorney representing the winning side drafts the official court order, which becomes the permanent record of proceedings. This practice poses significant risks for self-represented litigants who may be unaware of their…
Court Denies Brenna Gano’s Motions — But Sets the Stage for Trial
A San Mateo family court judge rejected Brenna Gano's requests to set aside a contested 2022 settlement, citing statute of limitations issues. While Gano claimed duress and lack of accommodations, the judge ruled her allegations did not meet the…
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…
Before the Record, There Was a Marriage. This Is How It Ended — And How Everything That Followed Began.
The Still Here series documents a father's struggle to maintain a relationship with his son after a tumultuous marriage that ended with a protective order. It reveals a pattern of emotional abuse and systemic failures in recognizing male victims of…
No One Is Watching: How Montgomery County’s Family Court Operates Without External Oversight, and What Happens to the People Who Notice
An investigation reveals a significant accountability gap in Maryland's family court system, where civil rights complaints against judges lack external oversight and transparency. Complaints filed are often sealed and unreported, leading to systemic…
They’re Adults Now. He Still Can’t Call Them.
Marc Fishman’s children are no longer caught in a custody battle — they’re adults. And yet the silence remains. His case exposes a reality rarely discussed: when parental alienation succeeds, it doesn’t end. It becomes permanent.
The ‘Mom Yells’ Playbook
A two-word claim — “mom yells” — became the foundation for a seven-year custody battle that ended in total estrangement. This investigation traces how a narrative, once introduced into the family court system, can be repeated, reinforced, and ultimately…