That being said, the law does not hold child welfare agencies to a standard of perfection. Liability can be found, however, when agencies deviate from accepted, standard practices, no matter how pure the decision maker's ...

The image that a sexual predator is a stranger trying to entice a small child is so outdated. Today, we know that sexual predators can be anyone—blood relatives, clergy, doctors, coaches, and, yes, teachers. As authority ...

A married man is legally presumed to be the biological father of his wife’s offspring. But there are times that a legal parent objects to paternity or a mother questions the paternity of her partner or asserts the husband ...

Unfortunately, sexual grooming is more obvious in hindsight than in real time. And so, the best policy is the ‘roach approach’ – turn on the light!

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 ...