Autism in Family Courts
The latest concern in family courts is a result of the sharp increase in the number of children who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which has revealed that our courts are not prepared to handle cases with ASD individuals and families.
New York State's Attorney for the Child System
<b><i>Part Two of a Two-Part Article</i></b><p>As discussed in Part One last month, an AFC advocates for the child client in much the same way that any other attorney advocates for an adult client. This author is not a fan. He concludes his discussion of the drawbacks of New York's AFC system herein.
Tri-Parenting
<b><i>Part Two of a Two-Part Article</i></b><p>Last month, the author asked what matrimonial and family law attorneys can do to help their clients with tri-parenting concerns. The discussion concludes herein.
Tri-Parenting: Three's Company or Three's a Crowd?
<b><I>Part One of a Two-Part Article</I></b><p>Laws pertaining to legal parentage have changed frequently in recent years as states have attempted to keep pace with the evolving configurations of modern-day families. Major contributors to this process have expanded our definitions of family and parenthood. Still, what about the related issue of <I>how many</I> recognized parents a child can have?
New York State's Attorney for the Child System Falls Short
<b><I>Part One of a Two-Part Article</I></b><p>Custody disputes can be financially and emotionally draining, and stressful for both parents and children. It was once believed that after a divorce, children needed the full-time stability of a home run by one parent, but today, shared custody has become an accepted method of circumventing the brutal dynamics of divorce litigation.
A Broadening Consensus to Narrow Asset Forfeiture
When Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in July that the federal government planned to again emphasize the pursuit of civil asset forfeitures, it raised issues for many, including the spouses and family members of those who are charged with committing federal crimes.
Forensic Mythologies and Custody Evaluations
<b><I>Part Two of a Two-Part Article</I></b><p>Last month, we looked at several commonly held beliefs about forensic psychologists and psychiatrists who conduct custody evaluations for the courts. Many of them are not necessarily true. We conclude this discussion herein.
Psychological Subjugation: The Elusive Form of Abuse
Mental health and legal professionals must devote more resources to studying the interpersonal dynamics of subjugation that is accomplished without resort to physical force, and the implications of these dynamics for the appropriate adjudication of custody/access disputes.
Divorce and the Undocumented Spouse
<b><I>Divorcing Women Immigrants and VAWA; Part Two of a Two-Part Article</I></b><p>The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) includes a procedure that gives legal status to immigrants who were abused by their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, who often use the immigration law as a cudgel of power and control.
Forensic Mythologies and Custody Evaluations
<b><I>Part One of a Two-Part Article</I></b><p>As forensic psychologists and psychiatrists agree to accept appointments as evaluators or take the stand to testify about a custody matter, there are often many assumptions about forensic practice floating among those in the legal community, and even on the part of litigants, that are questionable at best.
