Family Law

2481 ABA Journal Family Law articles.

Chinese Law Prof, Fired and Fined for Violating One-Child Policy, Tried Selling Himself

A law professor who was fired and charged a $37,000 “social upbringing fee” for violating China’s one-child policy tried putting himself up for sale to raise the money. Yang Zhizhu lost his job at Beijing’s China Youth University for Political Sciences after he refused to pay the fine, levied after…

Sep 2, 2011 1:13 PM CDT

Mel Gibson Settles Child-Custody Case

Updated: Actor Mel Gibson is putting an end to a hard-fought case over the custody of his young daughter with former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Lichtman announced today that Gibson will pay $750,000 to Grigorieva and establish a trust for their child, who is almost…

Aug 31, 2011 5:27 PM CDT

Tenn. Proposal Would Give Some Indigent Defense Work to Low-Bidding Lawyers

A proposal in Tennessee seeks to cut down on indigent defense costs by giving some of the work to lawyers who bid for the right to do the work on a fixed-fee basis. Critics claim the proposal would put justice up for sale to the lowest bidder, the Knoxville News…

Aug 31, 2011 2:25 PM CDT

8th Circuit OKs Denial of Social Security Benefits to Daughter Born 2 Years After Dad’s Death

A federal appeals court has reversed a trial court ruling that a girl born, with the help of in vitro fertilization, two years after her dad’s death is entitled to social security benefits. Upholding an Iowa law, since amended, that was enacted before assisted reproductive techniques made such births possible,…

Aug 30, 2011 7:49 PM CDT

Stairs Interfere with Truck Driver’s Effort to Ram Courthouse

An Illinois man upset over child support issues tried to ram his 18-wheeler into the Madison County Courthouse on Monday, but he didn’t get any farther than the courthouse stairs. Roy Conger, 42, fled the scene after his semi got stuck, but he later turned himself in at the Madison…

Aug 30, 2011 2:33 PM CDT

No College Care Packages? No Birthday Cash? Kids Sue Mom—Unsuccessfully—with Lawyer Dad’s Help

An Illinois appeals court has dismissed a bad mothering suit filed by two young adults with the help of their lawyer father. The First District Appellate Court of Illinois found that Kimberly Garrity’s conduct wasn’t extreme or outrageous, and didn’t justify a suit seeking damages for emotional distress, report the…

Aug 29, 2011 11:41 AM CDT

New Jersey Repeals Old Laws Punishing Cheating Women, Allowing Quickie Marriages for Accused Rapists

Two New Jersey laws described as a “demeaning relic” of older times are no longer on the books. Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation last week that repeals outdated and obsolete laws, including two that embodied sexist attitudes toward women, report NJ.com and the New Jersey Law Journal. One law provided…

Aug 25, 2011 1:10 PM CDT

Alaska Mom Convicted of Child Abuse for Hot-Sauce Discipline Portrayed on ‘Dr. Phil’

An Anchorage, Alaska, mom who punished her adopted son with hot sauce and a cold shower has been convicted of misdemeanor child abuse. Sentencing for Jessica Beagley is scheduled for Monday, the Anchorage Daily News reports. She faces a sentence of up to a year in prison and a $10,000…

Aug 24, 2011 12:13 PM CDT

Judge Nixes Bingham’s Bid for a Court Finding Precluding Malpractice Suit by LA Dodgers Owner

In an unusual pre-emptive strike, Bingham McCutchen filed suit in Massachusetts earlier this year, seeking a declaratory judgment that apparently could have precluded a former client, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, from suing for malpractice over a botched marital property agreement. But a state-court judge in Boston nixed the…

Aug 19, 2011 12:10 AM CDT

In New York, a Tiny Pot Stash Can Lead to a Child Neglect Claim and Lost Custody

New York’s child welfare agency is opening child neglect cases and sending children to foster care in hundreds of cases when a parent is caught with small amounts of marijuana. The New York Times interviewed lawyers and examined city records to confirm that such consequences are common. In a few…

Aug 18, 2011 3:42 PM CDT

Child Abuse Trial Begins for Mom Charged After Sending Video of Hot Sauce Discipline to Dr. Phil

An Alaska woman and her police officer husband intended to help two Russian orphans by adopting the twin boys, her lawyer told a jury. But after she sent a video of the unusual punishment she was using to discipline one child to a national television show in an effort to…

Aug 17, 2011 11:58 PM CDT

Tragic Death of Tot After Hard-Fought Custody Case Leads to Call for Disbarment of Dad’s Lawyer Sib

Stunned by the recent death of a 2-year-old girl at the center of a hard-fought California custody case, observers wondered what might have been done differently to prevent the tragedy. Although the case is still being investigated, news reports indicate Madeline Layla Samaan-Fay likely died as a result of a…

Aug 17, 2011 10:20 PM CDT

Legal Reform Needed So Pampered Pets of the Well-to-Do Inherit as Planned, Law Profs Say

Setting up an estate plan to take care of Fido and Fluffy can be more complex than one might think. Money to care for a beloved pet must be left in trust, with a designated caretaker. And even with all the high-priced legal talent available to Leona Helmsley, the hotel…

Aug 16, 2011 6:48 PM CDT

Left for Dead After Law Office Attack, Former Judge is Still Unable to Talk to Investigators

A former judge who was savagely attacked and left for dead in his New Mexico law office 10 days ago is still hospitalized and unable to speak to investigators. Tom Fitch, 68, was struck several times in the head with an unknown object. Maj. Daniel Lovato of the state police,…

Aug 15, 2011 4:35 PM CDT

Prosecutor Says Lawyer Tried to Get One Client, Who Owed Legal Fees, to Take Contract Hit on Another

An Illinois lawyer accused of trying to arrange a contract hit on a former client allegedly approached five individuals, including a client who owed him money for attorney’s fees, seeking to arrange a contract hit on an ex-client, according to a federal prosecutor. But the contract was never executed, and…

Aug 10, 2011 11:01 PM CDT

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Family Law

Chinese Law Prof, Fired and Fined for Violating One-Child Policy, Tried Selling Himself

Mel Gibson Settles Child-Custody Case

Tenn. Proposal Would Give Some Indigent Defense Work to Low-Bidding Lawyers

8th Circuit OKs Denial of Social Security Benefits to Daughter Born 2 Years After Dad’s Death

Stairs Interfere with Truck Driver’s Effort to Ram Courthouse

No College Care Packages? No Birthday Cash? Kids Sue Mom—Unsuccessfully—with Lawyer Dad’s Help

New Jersey Repeals Old Laws Punishing Cheating Women, Allowing Quickie Marriages for Accused Rapists

Alaska Mom Convicted of Child Abuse for Hot-Sauce Discipline Portrayed on ‘Dr. Phil’

Judge Nixes Bingham’s Bid for a Court Finding Precluding Malpractice Suit by LA Dodgers Owner

In New York, a Tiny Pot Stash Can Lead to a Child Neglect Claim and Lost Custody

Child Abuse Trial Begins for Mom Charged After Sending Video of Hot Sauce Discipline to Dr. Phil

Tragic Death of Tot After Hard-Fought Custody Case Leads to Call for Disbarment of Dad’s Lawyer Sib

Legal Reform Needed So Pampered Pets of the Well-to-Do Inherit as Planned, Law Profs Say

Left for Dead After Law Office Attack, Former Judge is Still Unable to Talk to Investigators

Prosecutor Says Lawyer Tried to Get One Client, Who Owed Legal Fees, to Take Contract Hit on Another

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