Month: November 2023
Child Representation: The Value of Being Seen, Heard, and Represented
by Jessalyn R. Hopkin and Stacy L. PittmanIn child protection cases, children are the focus. When a child suffers from neglect or abuse, the state can step in to protect the child. From shelter care, to case planning, to case…
Read Full ArticleWhen Custody Mediation Orders Cause More Problems Than They Solve
by Tyrie J. StrongMediation is a useful and increasingly popular tool that, when used properly, helps resolve cases and reduce docket congestion. In family law matters, custody decisions reached through mediation tend to be more acceptable to the parties, thus…
Read Full ArticleQDROS: Because Divorces Aren’t Complicated Enough Already
by Natalie GreavesIt is sometimes said that family law attorneys have the best stories, and that might be true. What other attorneys can share stories of litigants gluing drawers together prior to transferring property, arguing over dishes and collectible dolls,…
Read Full ArticleMore than Just Paper: The Rising Popularity of Premarital Agreements
by Jorge E. SalazarIn popular culture, prenuptial agreements have received their fair share of criticism, and the legal community has likewise viewed these agreements with varying degrees of disfavor over time. Laypeople and legal professionals hold valid concerns that the…
Read Full ArticleBreaking the Chains of Stigma: Safeguarding Substance-Using Parents and Their Children in Civil Legal Matters
by Cassidy LandryPicture a devoted parent entangled in a civil custody dispute, their future with their child hanging in the balance. Now imagine that this parent is also confronting a substance use issue – an affliction often misinterpreted and stigmatized…
Read Full ArticleHandling a Child Protection Case for the First Time? Insight from the Bench
by Hon. Andrew N.J. Ellis and Hon. Victoria A. OldsHandling child protection cases may seem overwhelming for an attorney who has never handled one before. For others, it may seem like a simple transition where the same culture and style…
Read Full ArticleUnderstanding Trauma Beyond the Numbers: Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices in Family, Child Protection, and Juvenile Law
by Janice BellerAuthor’s Note: The author wishes to express her thanks to Judge Jack Varin, for his insight, wisdom, and knowledge on this topic, all of which inspired this article.Whether a child lands in the middle of a high-conflict divorce…
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