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…
Fighting Through It
The article discusses the consequences of dismissing a father's illness within legal proceedings, as exemplified by the author's experience with pneumonia and a high-conflict separation. Despite medical documentation, his former partner accused him of…
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…
The Federal Government Will Ground You for Unpaid Child Support. It Has No Answer for Stolen Parenting Time.
The Trump administration's policy, effective May 9, 2026, revokes passports from parents owing over $2,500 in child support debt, without considering individual circumstances. This disproportionately affects struggling parents, especially those involved…
A Paper Doesn’t Stop a Bullet. A False Accusation Helps Pull the Trigger.
Three Maryland cases reveal the same systemic failure: protective orders that identify danger but cannot stop it. At the same time, false filings dilute the system’s ability to respond to real threats — leaving children to bear the cost.
The Map Is Not the Problem
Michael Phillips critiques Bruce Lesley's argument on children and gerrymandering, asserting it oversimplifies child welfare issues. While the Supreme Court's Callais decision addresses racial gerrymandering, Phillips emphasizes the real crises in foster…
She Wants Her Name Out of the Story. The First Amendment Has Something to Say About That.
Michael Phillips responds to Christina Avgerinos's demands to remove her and their son's names from his writings. He argues that such requests lack legal authority under First Amendment protections and highlights the broader implications for parental…
The Treaty That Rewards the Kidnapper
Justice Sotomayor's dissent in Castro v. Guevara highlights concerns about the court's handling of "well-settled" determinations in Hague Convention cases. The case involved a Venezuelan mother taking her daughter without consent, raising questions about…
Maryland Just Created an Independent Watchdog for Foster Kids. Here’s What It Actually Does.
Maryland has passed Kanaiyah’s Law, creating an independent child welfare ombudsman, banning unlicensed foster placements, and tightening guardianship requirements. For families navigating the system, the changes are concrete — and long overdue.