Surrogacy: Legal Showdowns are Imminent

As technology becomes more and more sophisticated, we will naturally see the categories of mother and father morph into a regime that renders biological ties to a child as merely incidental, effectively separating conjugal relations and conception. Legally, an interesting policy question emerges: Can a legal system hold by simultaneously recognizing procreation as well as “human agreements” of parental rights?

Risk Management for Nonprofits

So the million/billion/trillion dollar first question for any nonprofit is - when to start? A car begins depreciating the second you drive it off the lot. Any business, nonprofits included, begins taking on risks the second they are operational. Following this logic, a risk management plan should be one of the first things trustees or founders focus on, right? Well, not so fast. When nonprofits find themselves in a nascent phase, for example, the focus is on viability. The project needs to get off the ground, attract funding, and deliver results if it’s going to be viable. If trustees and founders are diverting too much of their attention to risk mitigation and management plans, the all-too-important ideation and creativity that need to take place for the nonprofit to get off the ground will be compromised.

Family Law - Alcohol Monitoring Tools

Keratin fibers below the nail are quite effective at trapping substances that pass from blood vessels. EtG nail testing can detect biomarkers up to two weeks after consumption. In terms of collection, the person typically cuts his or her nails (fingers or toes) in front of a monitor. Pros: Like urine, this is a very cheap test to perform (collecting, shipping, and storing). Cons: However, the results are not immediate and the use of a lab pushes the cost higher.

Know Your Arizona Domestic Violence Protective Orders

An Injunction Against Harassment is an order to restrict the harassment or annoyance of another person. The most frequent situations involve ex-romantic partners and neighbors, but it can also pertain to strangers in some circumstances as well. It is important to note that harassment is defined as a “series of acts” and not simply one act directed at a person. The Order of Protection can also include the protection of other members of the home while the injunction does not.

Colorado - The First State to Combat Reunification Treatment

The reunification of a child with his/her parent is surely a goal in family law. Yet, despite the benefits (in the best of cases), there are too many examples where reunification places the child back in danger with an abusive parent. A recent Colorado House Bill (HB 23-1178) is the first in the country aligned to comply with the federal “Keeping Children Safe From Family Violence Act.” Also known as “Kayden’s Law,” this Act incentivizes states to ensure at-risk children are adequately protected through state-specific child custody laws. Named after Kayden Mancuso, a Pennsylvania child murdered by her father, Kayden’s mother had submitted evidence to the court surrounding the father’s violent and abusive history, yet, the court still granted Kayden’s father unsupervised custody time.

Revealing the Emotional and Psychological Effects of Divorce

Divorce is more common in the United States than in any other country in the world. Roughly 50% of all marriages end in divorce, and an even higher percentage (67%) of all second marriages terminate. Divorce is never the intended outcome of any marriage. Yet, with these rates, it's safe to say you’ve either been divorced or know someone who has. Clinically speaking, divorce is positively correlated with an increase in depression. Losing a partner and a shared vision or plan for the future is extremely disheartening. Couple this with the financial implications, the psychological and emotional toll can be extreme.

Ending a Relationship - What Emotions Can You Expect?

Once dissatisfaction is verbally expressed, most couples have 8 to 12 months before the legal separation process begins. Dissatisfaction is all the disillusioned feelings expressed (verbally or, in the worst of cases, physically). This is a stage where marital counseling, a possible honeymoon phase (to give the relationship one last shot), as well as a host of feelings, take shape - tension, anguish, emotional roller coasters, etc.

Where to Find an Expert Witness

It is tempting to choose the expert who has been involved with hundreds of cases as opposed to simply two dozen. The inclination is understandable, but when it comes to a courtroom, the expert’s testimony is frankly all that matters. When vetting the expert witness, ensure they have a firm command of their subject area and do not come across as a “hired gun.” A courtroom will generally sniff this out and not respond well.

A Clear Case for the Termination of Parental Rights

L.Z.’s parents are Brianna Z. (mother) and Shawn F. (father). In July 2020, police responded to Brianna’s home after reports of Brianna naked in the street. The authorities arrived to encounter Brianna in an accelerated state that eventually resulted in her being tased by officers and transported to the hospital. When the officers returned to Brianna’s home, they discovered L.Z. naked, bruised, and crying in a closet. The Department of Child Safety (DCS) placed L.Z. in temporary custody of her great aunt and uncle.

Coercive Control is Abuse

The crux of the case centered on the alleged coercive control of the children’s father, Ariel. One of the most compelling allegations in the case was the behavior of Arielle, a two-year-old child. Arielle was cited as using derogatory words towards his mother, Aisha, such as “bitch” and similar language. The manner by which he levied these insults, along with the language, is clearly learned behavior at the age of 2. The person whom the child most likely heard referring to his mother in that fashion is the father, Ariel.

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