Prepare Yourself to Speak
In Virginia's courtrooms, unaccompanied children often represent themselves due to a lack of legal counsel, especially highlighted after a federal contract lapsed, increasing their vulnerability in immigration and family courts. Both systems inadequately…
The Record Nobody Can Check
Maryland has passed Senate Bill 426, overriding a veto to protect sensitive divorce and custody records from public access to prevent harassment. However, this law may hinder accountability by making it difficult to verify document integrity and identify…
The Squeeze: When Two Broken Systems Land on the Same Parent
A recent federal memo rescinded restrictions on states disqualifying SNAP benefits for noncooperation with child support, potentially affecting struggling parents caught in enforcement gaps. This policy shift underscores systemic issues where child…
The Missing Variable
Father absence significantly predicts juvenile crime in America, with evidence showing boys from fatherless homes are disproportionately involved in delinquency and violence. Despite the clear link demonstrated by decades of research, structural issues,…
When “I Wish They Were Gone” Becomes a Blueprint: What the Research Says About Hostility and Parental Alienation
The article by Michael Phillips explores the complexities of parental alienation in family court settings, highlighting the prevalence of hostile parental dynamics and their impact on children. It emphasizes that while parental alienation is common, it…
The Access Gap AI Was Supposed to Close — And What It’s Opening Instead
A recent appellate court case highlighted issues with AI-generated citations in custody matters, revealing a trend where self-represented litigants submit filings containing fabricated legal references. This problem threatens the grace doctrine, which…
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…
The Age-13 Cutoff Nobody Voted For: How Software, Not State Law, Is Setting the Rules on Parental Access to Teen Medical Records
A viral post claimed an Oregon mother lost access to her son's medical records upon his turning 13, attributing it to Democratic policies. In reality, Oregon law does not set 13 as a threshold; it stems from MyChart software's age restrictions. The issue…
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…
Venezuela Has Lost Children to Disaster Before. It Still Hasn’t Built a System to Stop It.
A mother's account of losing her daughter during a chaotic earthquake rescue in Venezuela highlights the country's historical failures in child protection. Past disasters have left many children untracked and vulnerable. With recent earthquakes affecting…