Tucked quietly into the most recent congressional measure to keep the government open was the most sweeping and ambitious piece of child welfare legislation passed in at least a decade. It’s an attempt to reshape the entrenched foster care system as a raging opioid epidemic swells the population of children in need.
The measure overcame the...
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Child Marriage Targeted in Several States
The ABA Journal reported that on her TV show last summer, comedian Samantha Bee told the story of a teenage girl, Cassandra Levesque, who learned about child marriage laws at a Girl Scouts conference. Cassandra was upset after discovering that most states allow girls as young as 13—and boys as young as 14—to be married...
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Pets Treated As Children In Divorce Proceedings
As reported in the Chicago Tribune a spousal split can lead to a contentious custody fight over four-legged fur babies.
According to a new state law effective Jan. 1, judges in divorce proceedings can consider the well-being of companion animals in allocating sole or joint ownership.
“It sort of starts treating your animal more like children” instead...
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No Money for Legal Aid? Phone App Helps Floridians Navigate Family Court
Fact: Other democracies spend up to 10 times more on civil legal aid than the United States.
To close the gap, without money, a Florida Commission looks to close the Justice Gap with a new phone app can help the tens of thousands of low-income Floridians who must defend themselves...