Tag: family law
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Pets should have legal custody status
Courts treat pets as property in divorce, but they aren’t furniture. Here’s the case for custody-style legal status and why courts keep refusing.
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No-fault divorce was the single greatest legal advance for women in the 20th century
No-fault divorce, often understated in feminist histories, dramatically reduced female suicide and domestic homicide. The data makes the case the law itself rarely does.
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The scorched earth scam: lawyers who profit from prolonging conflict
Some attorneys deliberately escalate disputes to extend billable hours. Here’s how the scorched-earth playbook works and how to recognize it.
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Polyamorous families have no legal protection and courts pretend they don’t exist
Polyamorous households are growing in number but invisible in law. The result is custody risk, hospital bar, and financial precarity courts ignore.
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The retainer drain: how some divorce attorneys bleed clients dry with padded hours
A $5,000 divorce retainer can become a $50,000 invoice through billing practices that exploit client distress. Here’s what to watch for in itemized statements.
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Common-law marriage shouldn’t exist in 2026
Common-law marriage was useful when frontier couples couldn’t reach a courthouse. In 2026, it mostly traps people in obligations they never agreed to.
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Grandparent visitation rights have gone too far
Grandparent visitation laws were intended to protect kids, but in practice they often override fit parents’ decisions. Here’s how the legal landscape shifted.
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Grandparent visitation rights haven’t gone far enough
After Troxel v. Granville, grandparent visitation laws were sharply limited. The current legal patchwork leaves many family relationships unprotected.
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Divorce lawyers profit from prolonging conflict
Divorce attorneys are paid by the hour to manage cases where cooperation costs them money. The incentive structure is exactly what it looks like.