Two domestic violence cases in Maine have been postponed for four months.

Because prospective jurors were among the passersby exposed to educational materials on display outside the courthouse in conjunction with National Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Apparently, anti-domestic violence messages may be viewed as controversial in the state of Maine.

And may be deemed prejudicial to the administration of justice in the state of Maine.

Womancare, the local Maine nonprofit serving victims of domestic violence, must really have its work cut out for it, even more than some of their counterparts in other states.

Read more in this Bangor Daily News article: Domestic violence cases postponed.

If you think divorce rates are high among the general population, they’re nothing compared to divorce rates for members of the armed forces.

Divorces among army officers rose a whopping 78% between 2003 and 2005.

And divorce among enlisted personnel has risen 53% since 2000.

Military personnel and their spouses going through divorces should keep several special issues in mind related to:

1. Jurisdiction
2. Pensions
3. Survivor Benefits and
4. the 10 Year Rule

Read more in this article on the special considerations in military divorces.

According to reports, an arguably overzealous child welfare agency in Missouri, with an inexperienced social worker running the case, conducted a formal home study before starting a termination of parental rights case by filing a petition with the court.

The applicable Missouri statute reportedly states clearly that the home study should be conducted and filed after the filing of the petition.

At trial, the court deferred ruling on various motions, including a motion on whether to recognize the home study as evidence in the case – until after the Court reached a decision on the merits of the case.

The presiding judge apparently adopted an “ends justifies the means” approach.

But that approach runs counter to the rule of law, rather than men philosophy that underpins our legal system.

The intermediate level appellate court rejected the trial judge’s ruling, but transferred the case to Missouri’s highest court. Quoting from another opinion, the Court stated:

Severance of the parent-child relationship by act of law is an exercise of awesome power and demands strict and literal compliance with the statutory authority from which it is derived.

Read the opinion in In the Interest of: C.W. at the Missouri courts website.

Parental alienation syndrome.

There is a surprisingly, even alarmingly, wide and sharp divergence of opinion about the validity of this so-called syndrome, one which is not presently recognized by any reputable national association of psychiatrists or psychologists.

Yet it has become an almost-trendy catchphrase, increasingly bandied about in child custody cases.

Sometimes, virtually determining the outcome of such cases.

Too often, brandished all too successfully by none other than … abusers of children.

Sometimes, all but stripping the non-abusive, protective parent of any contact with the children – or restricting the the non-abusive, protective parent to supervised contact.

In other words, sentencing the children to almost continuous control and abuse by the falsely accusing parent. And punishing the non-abusive parent for trying to protect the children.

Usually based on uncorroborated allegations.

Read more about this disturbing development in Junk science or truth? ‘Parental alienation syndrome’ increasingly cited in child custody fights.

An Alabama man, who was reportedly denied court-ordered visitation with his kids by his wife, is still waiting to have his visitation.

First, his wife’s stepfather allegedly shot at the man and his mother – while the children were being carried in their arms.

Two shots found their targets, one being the man’s head. The man didn’t want his children to see his injuries.

Next, the man’s wife’s mother allegedly made a terrorist threat against the judge who had held the children’s mother in contempt of court and sentenced her to 25 days in jail for denial of visitation.

At this point, social services is struggling to come up with a safe and secure way for the man to have his visitation with his children.

And now the kids’ father is no longer seeking visitation only.

He’s seeking sole custody.

This may not be one of the presiding judge’s more difficult decisions.

Read more in this Huntsville [AL] Times article: Man shot in custody dispute seeks visitation.

A new study conducted here in Florida finds that girls perform better academically after their parents in turbulent marriages divorce.

The people behind the study believe that bitter fighting between parents adversely affects girls worse than divorce does.

Boys, however, did not benefit academically from divorce under similar circumstances.

Boys appear to suffer more from the loss of the father in the household, and often act out after their parents separate.

Read more in this Gainesville Sun article: Are girls better off if parents divorce?

A 66 year old woman from Michigan has filed for divorce from the husband she claims married her while she was still a child in India.

They live in distant US states now and haven’t seen each other in 40 years – but they had several children together.

He denies the marriage – but she reportedly has two dozen witnesses to the wedding.

There could be a good bit of money at issue.

He’s a physician while she is scrimping on social security.

Read more in this Grand Rapids [MI] WOOD TV 8 article: Child bride hasn’t seen husband in 4 decades, sues for divorce and in this Hindustan Times article: ’55 bride takes hubby to court.

A North Carolina company is about to introduce a brand new product – divorce insurance.

The plan is marketed as enabling people to insure against the adverse financial impact that often accompanies a divorce.

The company claims that the insurance will be widely affordable.

One interesting feature: the policies offers financial incentives for insureds to stay married!

Details are fuzzy now because a patent is pending on the business method behind the product.

Sort of a cross between a prenup and a nest egg for a rainy day.

Read more in this press release: North Carolina Entrepreneur Plans to Add Divorce Insurance Product.

The recently formed Safe Child Custody Support Group describes itself as a child advocacy organization. As its name suggests, it seeks to promote the safety of children and serve as a resource to families and the legal system alike.

Read this press release about the Group: 16-year-old Illustrator of Children’s Book, “Doors,” Creates “Child Protector” Superheroes on Child Advocate Website.

Visit the Safe Child Custody Support Group’s website.

A 4 year old boy’s parents were going through a divorce in California.

In family court, the mother reportedly advised that the father was abusive toward her in the presence of their son.

It is unknown whether the allegations were reported by the court to child protective services.

As is often the case in family court, the father retaliated with choice allegations against the mother as well.

Social services had been slightly involved with the family during the divorce case, but reportedly found no need for continuing involvement.

After a child custody evaluation was completed, the parents agreed to joint custody of their son.

Presumably, that was the arrangement suggested, if not mandated, by the evaluation.

Then the father confessed to drowning his boy. Now he is under arrest.

Are our family courts doing enough to protect our children? And their parents who are victims of violence and abuse?

Read more in this Orange County [CA] Register article: Drowned boy’s mother called father abusive.