“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.
The Alienation Shortcut
When abuse records and alienation claims collide, courts have to decide what evidence matters. New laws are trying to force judges to review the record — but almost nobody reviews the judges.
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 Child Gets a Microphone. Who Controls the Room?
New Jersey's revised custody statute, under Kayden's Law, emphasizes children's expressed preferences in custody arrangements and mandates judicial documentation when such preferences are overlooked. However, it does not guarantee that children will be…
The Ledger Nobody Kept: What COVID-Era Guidance Did to Custody
The pandemic's impact on custody and family courts has been significant yet largely unquantified, as seen in the backlog of cases and the misuse of COVID-19 as a pretext in custody disputes. This situation was exacerbated by inconsistent court operations…
The System’s Two Speeds: Maryland Moves Fast to Take Custody, Slow to Answer for It
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.
The Force Multiplier
The family court system overlooks the specific needs of disabled children in custody disputes, failing to recognize how coercive control impacts their well-being. These children face heightened risks of abuse, and current legal reforms neglect their…
What to the Parent Is the Fourth of July?
On America's 250th birthday, Michael Phillips critiques the family court system, arguing it fails to protect parental rights, a fundamental liberty. He highlights discrepancies in legal protections between parents and individuals in criminal cases,…
The Credibility Gate: What Kyra’s Law Actually Does — and the Provision Nobody Is Covering
Kyra's Law has been framed as either a landmark child safety bill or an invitation to false allegations. The legislation is more complicated than either narrative. Hidden inside is a major expansion of appellate rights for parents facing temporary…
Parental Alienation as Labor Exploitation
Over 22 million American parents face systemic separation from their children due to parental alienation, a serious issue recognized but inadequately addressed by courts. This exploitation results in significant emotional and economic costs for families,…