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Family Law

Ambiguity in Surrogacy Cases Means a Need for Clear-Cut Agreements

Rebecca Palmer August 28, 2025

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned the precedents set by Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), states are approaching the issue of surrogate parenting rights differently. It was only in April of this year that Michigan passed a law allow surrogacy agreements to encompass “payment”

The Use of Vexatious Litigants and ‘the Nuclear Option’ in High-Conflict Family Law Cases

Natalie Webb August 12, 2025

Ideally, the courtroom should be a place of resolution — not retaliation. But in some high-conflict cases, litigation itself becomes a weapon, used not to protect children or clarify agreements, but to exhaust, intimidate or financially burden the other parent. When this happens, it’s time to shift our strategy from defending against every filing to protecting the client and the children’s

When Parental Rights Trump a Child’s Safety: A Call for a New Proactive Approach

Padideh Jafari July 7, 2025

In family law, few principles are as widely misunderstood as the standard of a child’s best interest – even among many of my colleagues in the field. It is meant to serve as a North Star in custody cases, guiding judges toward decisions that protect a child’s emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing. But what happens when that altruistic intent is

Establishing Parentage and Support for LGBTQ+ Families: A Legal Framework

Lawren D. Burroughs July 7, 2025

For LGBTQ+ parents, establishing legal parentage is critical to securing parental rights and ensuring children have access to support from both parents. Without legal recognition, a non-biological or non-adoptive parent may be treated as a legal stranger with no custodial or decision-making authority. Legal parentage provides certainty in custody, medical decisions, inheritance, and child support obligations—protections that are especially crucial

The Modern Prenup: Protecting Entrepreneurs and Digital Assets in a New Economy

Hossein Berenji and Steven Kunysz July 7, 2025

Once upon a time, a prenup was about the beach house, the pension, and maybe the family business. It was practical, a little unromantic, and mostly reserved for the wealthy or the well-advised. But the world has changed. Your client no longer owns a brick-and-mortar business—they have an Etsy store that nets six figures a year and is managed by

Why a Financial Analysis is Crucial in Your Divorce

Anna N. Blood July 7, 2025

Divorce isn’t just legal – it’s emotional and financially complex. Yet too often, a critical step gets missed: financial analysis. Without it, many, women in particular, risk walking away without their fair share, simply because the full financial picture was never examined. Whether the issue is lack of access, limited understanding, or not having the right support, skipping a thorough

Navigating the Aftermath of a Suicide Following (or During) Divorce

Rebecca Palmer June 25, 2025

The dissolution of a marriage is, by its very nature, a deeply emotional and often contentious journey, with the aftermath potentially amplifying issues and emotions to a higher magnitude. Settling into a “new normal” is difficult for everyone, and for some, the sadness and pain feel impossible to overcome. If the unimaginable happens, such as a former spouse tragically taking

How Systemic Issues in IVF Clinics Are Compromising Reproductive Care

Jeff Korek May 22, 2025

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine estimates that 12-15% of couples have trouble conceiving after one year of trying. Many of these couples turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF)—a technology responsible for 8 million births since its inception in 1978. Despite the success of IVF, systemic issues at fertility clinics have exposed many patients to a great deal of financial,

Addressing Religious Disagreements in Parenting Plans

Rebecca Palmer April 16, 2025

Given the significant role that religion plays in people’s lives, faith-based celebrations, despite their focus on joy and togetherness, can unfortunately become lightning rods for disagreement following a separation or divorce. This year’s overlapping Passover and Easter holidays demonstrate the need for a comprehensive parenting plan to mitigate potential arguments and upset concerning child-sharing during these meaningful holidays. Parenting plans

The Rise of Gray Divorce is Reshaping Family Law – Til Death (or Retirement)

Rebecca Palmer March 28, 2025

Fifty is known as the new 30, and the phenomenon of “gray divorce”—the dissolution of marriages among individuals aged 50 and above—is on the rise. This trend is particularly notable in the United States, where the divorce rate for this demographic increased dramatically from 1990 to 2010, and today approximately one-third of divorces involve people over the age of 50.

Family Law

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