Polyvagal theory was developed by Stephen Porges, Ph.D. to describe our “flight or fight” response to stressful situations. When faced with trauma, some individuals react with anger, anxiousness, or shame. Some retreat. ...

A parent's rights can be terminated if they are not able to properly care for their child. The Eighth District Court of Appeals in El Paso recently dealt with this issue in In the Int. of R.A.B., 2023 Tex. App. The appellate ...

The Houston Court of Appeals (First District) recently heard Fernandez v. State. Its ruling provides clear definitions of what role an outcry witness can play in proving allegations of continuous sexual abuse of a young ...

The Legislative Update on Family Law is a valuable resource to keep Texas lawyers in the know regarding changes to the Texas Family Code and other statutes. Why are these changes important? An attorney’s competence as a ...

Finally, policies and practices of solitary confinement demand further study. Well-designed research that examines the relationship between forms of solitary confinement and outcomes for those subject to any such periods ...

Family court judges have very difficult jobs. They must possess the wisdom of Solomon, the work ethic of Steve Jobs, and the kindness of Dolly Parton. When a family court judge looks in the mirror, do they see the legions ...

The decision to bring a lawsuit by survivors of child sexual abuse is an especially agonizing one. The last thing they want to hear from their prospective or retained attorney is that the legal case is just not a good ...

Lawyers are charged with advocating for their clients. When a court takes a holistic team approach, zealous advocacy must bow to serving the best interests of families, and especially, the best interests of children. The ...

Children may be the recipients of a quiet tsunami of well-intended, but nonetheless inappropriate expectations cast upon them. The parent who uses a child as a shield is manifesting high levels of dependency and emotional ...

Parricide and filicide are surely two of the most unthinkable and rare crimes.1 Parricide is the killing of a parent or other near relative.2 Filicide is the killing of a child less than eighteen years old by their parent ...