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​This open access book explores how legal proceedings in and out-of-court can be matched to the complex problems underlying disputes concerning child custody, residence and contact between parents. It focusses in particular on Nordic experiences of in and out-of-court mechanisms as means of resolving custody disputes. The contributors are internationally renowned and experienced researchers from the legal, psychological, and sociological fields who provide empirical as well as legal perspectives. They examine central legal, ethical and knowledge-based dilemmas in custody dispute proceedings. The findings speak to an international audience and suggest ways how to best realize the interests of the child. It transcends disciplinary, institutional, and jurisdictional boundaries in search of new knowledge.

Die 3. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage dieses Werks ist eine unverzichtbare Lektüre für erfahrene Familienmediatoren und alle anderen Fachleute, die mit grenzüberschreitenden Familienkonflikten und Kindesentführungsfällen zu tun haben. Eine Vielzahl von Beiträgen führender internationaler Expertinnen und Experten auf diesem Gebiet machen das Buch zu einer unschätzbaren Quelle die unter anderem Folgendes bietet: - Überblick über den einschlägigen internationalen Rechtsrahmen für solche Fälle - Anleitung zu den besonderen Merkmalen grenzüberschreitender Familiensachen sowie den eingesetzten Methoden, Mediationsmodellen und Instrumenten - Informationen zur Koordinierung der Mediation mit Gerichtsverfahren in Kindesentführungsfällen - Leitlinien für die grenzüberschreitende Vollstreckbarkeit von im Mediationsverfahren geschlossenen Familienvereinbarungen - Ansätze und bewährte Praktiken für die Mediation in Fällen mit (muslimischen) Ländern, die nicht dem Haager Übereinkommen angehören - Informationen zur Einbeziehung der Stimme des Kindes in die Mediation, Online-Mediation, Zweisprachigkeit in der grenzüberschreitenden Mediation - praktische Informationen und Ressourcen wie z.B. Fallstudien, Muster für Mediationsvereinbarungen und Gerichtsbeschlüsse, eine Vorlage für eine Gerichtsstandsvereinbarung, Checklisten, Links wichtiger Ansprechpartner und Texte der anwendbaren internationalen Rechtsinstrumente------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 3rd updated and expanded edition of this reference book is indispensable reading for experienced family mediators and all other professionals involved in cross-border family conflicts and child abduction cases. A diverse range of contributions from leading international experts in the field make this an invaluable resource covering: - an overview of the relevant international legal framework for such cases - insight into the specific characteristics of cross-border family cases, the methodologies, mediation models and tools employed - information on coordinating mediation with court proceedings in child abduction cases - guidance on the cross-border enforceability of mediated family agreements - family law trends and mediation in cases with non-Hague Convention (Muslim) countries - the voice of the child, mediating online, bilingualism in mediation - practical information and resources, such as case studies, sample mediation agreements and court orders, a template of a choice of court agreement, checklists, important contacts and applicable legal texts List of authors Lin Adrian, Lesley Allport, Charlotte Baek Risbjerg, Sabine Brieger, Eberhard Carl, Mary Carroll, Martina Erb-Klünemann, Juliane Hirsch, Mohamed M. Keshavjee, Ischtar Khalaf-Newsome, Sybille Kiesewetter, Kyra Nehls, Christoph C. Paul, Jamie Walker, Konstanze Welz

Did you know that once a week an adopted child is advertised to be given away on Internet? The book “Unregulated Custody Transfer of Adopted Children'is a thought-provoking and an eye-opening book that uncovers the gray zone of adoption. The book talks about the often-overlooked issue of the terrifying reality of national and international adoption. Through legal analysis and accompanying story this book sheds light on the heart-wrenching reality of children who have been rehomed. It delves into the lives of adoptive families who find themselves overwhelmed and unable to care for their adopted children, leading to a black market of custody transfer where vulnerable children are given away with one click and with just one piece of paper to strangers. This book is a must-read for as it highlights the urgent need for increased regulation and oversight to protect the well-being of children in need of safe and loving homes. Particular attention is given to the international adoption and the countries such as Russia and Ukraine. The author has played close attention to the laws and regulations in the above mentioned countries by first hand translation and research, in order to give a deeper insights into the heartbreaking reality of unregulated custody transfer of adopted children. The book provides helpful insights for lawmakers, legal practitioners, scholars, child care professionals, international law scholars and students interested in human rights law, adoption law, and child protection.

With a focus on the 1980 Hague Convention, this cutting-edge Research Handbook provides a holistic overview of the law on international child abduction from prevention, through voluntary agreements and Convention proceedings, to post-return and aftercare issues.Discussing the repercussions of abduction from the perspectives of both abducted children and the therapeutic and family justice professionals engaged in their cases, chapters consider the contributions of the many professionals and key agencies involved in the field. Identifying the 1980 Hague Convention as the principal global instrument for dealing with child abduction, the Research Handbook traces its role, history, development and impact, alongside the mechanisms required for its effective use. Evaluating current trends, areas of concern in legal/judicial practice and various regional initiatives, it also considers alternatives to high-conflict court proceedings in international child abduction cases. The Convention's strengths, successes, weaknesses and gaps are discussed, and the Research Handbook concludes by addressing how best to tackle the challenges in its future operation.Interdisciplinary and accessible in approach, the contributions from renowned subject specialists will prove useful to students and scholars of human rights and family law, international law and the intersections between law and gender studies, politics and sociology. Its combination of research, policy and practice will be of value to legal practitioners working in family law alongside NGOs and central authorities active in the field.

Every family lawyer should understand the workings of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This updated third edition of The Hague Abduction Convention explains for family lawyers how this critical treaty works in the United States, both in theory and in practice. The renowned author, Jeremy D. Morley, has enormous experience counseling clients and fellow practitioners as to international family law matters globally, as well as lecturing on international child custody law to audiences around the world.Because family law is becoming increasingly internationalized with globalization, international relationships are common and international travel is growing. Family lawyers and judges may not be fully aware of the law and the voluminous case law that has developed around the Hague Convention. It operates in the United States in ways that are significantly different than in other Hague countries due to federal legislation that implements the treaty, the concurrence of federal and state jurisdiction, the uniform state legislation on child custody jurisdiction and a host of other factors.This practical resource for U.S. practitioners explains the treaty's operation in American courts, both federal and state, and unravels the relationship between the Hague Convention, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, and foreign child custody laws. Focusing mostly on what are sometimes called'incoming'abductions, or abductions from other countries into the U.S., this book addresses the issues of primary concern for practitioners, including:Procedural and practical issuesEstablishing the child's'habitual residence'Rights custodyProvisions regarding consent and acquiescence to the child's removal'One-year-and-settled'exceptionChild's objection to the return'Grave risk of harm'exceptionHuman rights exceptionRights of accessInternational relocation and travel, and more

This book addresses the concept of parental alienation – the belief that when a child of divorced parents avoids one parent, it may be because the preferred parent has persuaded the child to do this. It argues against the unquestioning use of parental alienation concepts in child custody conflicts.Increasing use of this concept in family courts has led at times to placement of children with abusive or violent parents, damage to the lives of preferred parents, and the use of treatments that have not been shown to be safe or effective. The 13 chapters cover the history and theory of'parental alienation'principles and practices. Methodological and research issues are considered, and diagnostic and treatment methods associated with'parental alienation'beliefs as well as those recommended by research and ethical evidence are analyzed. The connections of'parental alienation'with gender and domestic violence issues are discussed as are the experiences of individuals who have experienced'parental alienation'treatments. The book argues that'parental alienation'principles and practices should be avoided by family courts, in the best interests of children in custody disputes.This book will be useful reading for lawyers, judges, children's services workers including social workers, child protection court workers, and mental health professionals involved in child custody decisions.

Cuando los padres conviven suelen decidir de forma consensuada los aspectos más relevantes en torno a sus hijos, como por ejemplo la elección de colegio, la práctica de una religión, o el sometimiento a intervenciones médicas, decisiones que se toman teniendo en cuenta la opinión de menores y adolescentes. La toma de esas decisiones constituye parte del contenido de la patria potestad, que habitualmente se ejerce de forma conjunta por ambos progenitores, aunque puede hacerlo uno solo con el consentimiento expreso o tácito del otro, siendo válidos los actos que realice uno de ellos conforme al uso social y a las circunstancias o en casos de urgente necesidad. Si quiebra la convivencia los hijos quedarán en compañía de uno u otro y, el ejercicio de los derechos y deberes que confiere la patria potestad adquiere una nueva dimensión. En estos casos, la patria potestad será ejercida por aquel con quien el hijo conviva, si bien judicialmente podrá acordarse que se ejerza de forma conjunta o distribuir las funciones entre ambos progenitores. Cuando por la quiebra de la convivencia se tramita un procedimiento de nulidad, separación o divorcio, el Código Civil obliga a que la resolución que se dicte regule el ejercicio de la patria potestad. En estas situaciones surge el concepto de guarda y custodia, referido a la compañía efectiva de los menores en cada momento, y con él la cuestión de qué decisiones concretas que puedan afectar a la vida de los menores puede tomar de forma unilateral quien los tiene en su compañía, y cuales necesitan del concurso de ambos por estar incluidas en la patria potestad. En el presente trabajo se trata de dotar de herramientas a los operadores jurídicos recogiendo las novedades respecto al ejercicio de la patria potestad, sistematizándolas y estudiando aspectos novedosos como la posibilidad de la toma de decisiones respecto a los menores por la nueva pareja del progenitor. A tal efecto se estudian supuestos problemáticos en el ejercicio de la patria potestad: el cambio de domicilio unilateral por el progenitor custodio, la responsabilidad civil del guardador por los actos que realicen sus hijos mientras estén en su compañía, el ejercicio de la patria potestad por la nueva pareja del progenitor en caso de familias reconstituidas, el desacuerdo en la elección del nombre del hijo común, y los conflictos por la recogida de los menores por personas distintas al progenitor y su estancia con familiares y allegados.

This comprehensive volume brings to light little known implications of legal, economic, and custodial factors following a divorce. The Consequences of Divorce goes beyond the past decade's extensive focus on emotional and social adjustment outcomes to explore in-depth the post-divorce legal, economic, and custodial variables that impact the entire family. This important volume examines the economic conditions of both marriage partners after the divorce, the effect of legislative models on child support payment, child custody patterns and their impact on the family, and intervention strategies that take such custody problems into account. Teachers, counselors, researchers, and attorneys will be better prepared to offer support to family members after a divorce with the understanding of the economic and custodial conflicts that they will gain from this new book.The authoritative contributors examine statistics that show a marked decline in the economic well-being of women and children, which lead to questions of standards of adequacy for child support awards and an exploration of a new child support scheme from Australia. Different child custody arrangements are analyzed according to their consequences for each family member, providing valuable information for treating divorced families. Specific topics of interest include decreased parental involvement for fathers after a divorce, siblings separated by divorce, mothers without custody, and children's own viewpoints of custody arrangements. This informative book will lead to increased services to divorced families by expanding professionals'awareness of critical economic and legal issues that affect each member of the family.

This multidisciplinary volume offers an essential, comprehensive study of perspectives on the scope and application of the best interests of the child and focuses mainly on its application in relation to child custody.With expert contributions from psychological, sociological and legal perspectives, it offers scientific analysis and debate on whether it should be the primary consideration in deciding child custody cases in cases of divorce or separation or whether it should be one of several primary considerations. It explores complex dilemmas inherent in shared parenting and whether the advantages it offers children are sufficient when compared to attributing custody to one parent and limiting visitation rights of the other. Offering a comprehensive analysis of this complex topic, chapters provide detailed insight into the current state of research in this area, as well as expert guidelines aimed at resolving the controversies when parents agree or disagree over their children's living arrangements. Cutting-edge topics explored include: transnational shared parenting; alternative dispute resolution; breastfeeding parents; religious disputes between parents and the psychological, social and economic factors that affect shared parenting.The Routledge International Handbook of Shared Parenting and Best Interest of the Child will be essential reading for scholars and graduate students in law, psychology, sociology and economics interested in shared parenting and family law.

The'No Kids in the Middle'(Kinderen uit de Knel) intervention programme addresses high-conflict divorce through a multi-family approach. This first English language edition contains descriptions of the therapeutic sessions, references to a homework book (van der Est et al.) for parents and their network, along with extra information about the theoretical foundations of the programme.The book starts with theoretical foundations and a summary of the scientific research behind the methodology before moving on to focus on the methodology of the intervention programme per session, with detailed descriptions of each therapeutic session. Through these session descriptions, the authors demonstrate how the theory of the methodology can be put into practice within a group setting. The methodology is also conveyed in such a way that the key pillars and themes are clear, with a best-practice framework clearly demonstrated. Yet at the same time, the authors leave room for customization depending on the actual clients and therapists, and for this framework to be built upon further. With this programme now practiced and studied throughout Europe, Group Therapy for High-Conflict Divorce and its methodology will act as a living framework to help continuously improve practice and research among professional therapists, while also appealing to social workers and legal professionals.

The gripping true crime story of a child abducted by his father from his mother, and the international race to rescue him against dangerous odds.Two close encounters with death convince Darren Franklin that his career in global private security is not the healthiest. Meanwhile Scottish nurse Diane is on a life-changing journey of her own after a Shirley Valentine-style romance on a Greek holiday island. As she moves to Australia to marry her Greek lover and start a family, Darren escapes a contract on his life and teams up with a former British special forces operative to get into the business of rescuing abducted children. Then Darren's and Diane's paths cross. After Diane's marriage breaks down, her ex takes their four-year-old son Theo back to the Greek islands, and, when all attempts to get her son back via the courts have failed, Darren's company is called in to get him back. As Diane waits anxiously in the wings, Darren and his small team must contend with hostile locals, double-crossing police, and dubious legal contacts to conduct surveillance on their target, formulate a plan, and grab the boy before making their hazardous escape. They can trust no one. A whole island community is against them, they have their suspicions about their own lawyer, and the charity go-between on their team is actively leaking details of their plans, risking their mission, and possibly their lives. Set against an epidemic of parental abductions, and a background of frequent failed recoveries, the action swings from Britain to South America to Australia, to the USA and the Greek Islands on a dramatic, emotional roller coaster from start to finish.

“You can waste vast amounts of money by hiring the wrong lawyer while engaging in a high conflict divorce. Newman shows people the playbook and provides real tactics for breaking up in a more humane fashion.” —Alec Baldwin, actor, producer, New York Times bestselling author The definitive guide to navigating divorce in today's world from one of America's top matrimonial lawyers.Marriage as we know it in America has changed—and so, too, has divorce. Women are outearning men. Fathers are winning custody battles. Same-sex marriage is law. In this remarkably insightful and clear guide, elite New York City divorce attorney Jacqueline Newman shares her secrets from over two decades in the trenches. This book will help you: -Decide whether you are actually ready to get a divorce -Protect your finances and understand division of assets -Find the right lawyer for your situation -Win the child custody schedule you want -Heal and stay sane in the midst of a disorienting time Over the course of her career, Newman has implemented her strategies and coached her clients round the clock on how to navigate every aspect of their divorces. Now, in this landmark book, she offers the same tools and tactics to you. Newman also shines a light on the divorce industry where specialists of the trade financially benefit from drawn-out, high conflict cases. “Divorce,” she says, “can be simple, even if it is not amicable.” Filled with hard-earned wisdom and a touch of humor, The New Rules of Divorce is an essential read for anyone looking to emerge from their breakup stronger, happier, and secure.

Evidence-Informed Interventions for Court-Involved Families provides a critical, research-informed analysis of the core factors to consider when developing child-centered approaches to therapy and other family interventions, both in formal treatment settings and in promoting healthy engagement with the other systems and activities critical to children's daily lives. Addressing common problems, obstacles, and the backdrop of support needed from other professionals or the court, an international team of experts provide chapters covering a variety of service models and drawing on a wealth of relevant research on the legal context, central issues for treatment and other services, and specialized issues such as trauma, family violence, parent-child contact problems, and children with special needs. Offering extensive practical guidance for applying research, understanding its limitations, and matching service plans to families'needs, this book will be an essential resource for all mental health professionals evaluating or providing services to these families, and to the lawyers and judges seeking a better understanding of what works.

Pre-modern Muslim jurists drew a clear distinction between the nurturing and upkeep of children, or'custody', and caring for the child's education, discipline, and property, known as'guardianship'. Here, Ahmed Fekry Ibrahim analyzes how these two concepts relate to the welfare of the child, and traces the development of an Islamic child welfare jurisprudence akin to the Euro-American concept of the best interests of the child, enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Challenging Euro-American exceptionalism, he argues that child welfare played an essential role in agreements designed by early modern Egyptian judges and families, and that Egyptian child custody laws underwent radical transformations in the modern period. Focusing on a variety of themes, including matters of age and gender, the mother's marital status, and the custodian's lifestyle and religious affiliation, Ibrahim shows that there is an exaggerated gap between the modern concept of the best interests of the child and pre-modern Egyptian approaches to child welfare.

'Taken into care at two years old along with three of her siblings Iris lived in an immaculate, safe, caring family home for over seven years. Iris and her siblings were then returned to live with the birth parents they didn't know, into squalor, neglect and abuse. Escaping from this as soon as she could Iris built a life alongside her childhood sweetheart only to suffer a life-threatening illness and then heartbreak due to the betrayal by the person that she had trusted implicitly. Her experiences enabled her to have the strength and determination to rebuild her life once more.'

Handling Hague abduction cases is challenging and fulfilling. Although Hague cases are tried very quickly, they still require an intimate knowledge of the Convention and of the voluminous case law that has developed around it. Hague cases also require a complete understanding of international child custody law in general and in particular, for U.S. practitioners, of the relationship between The Hague Convention and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction & Enforcement Act.When children are the subject of international family law disputes, the challenges are often great and emotions generally run high. Simply put, money can be divided but children cannot. This book is a must-have resource of any family law practitioner that wants to represent the best interests of his client and their heirs involved in a Hague case.

In recent years there has been heightened interest in the clinical and legal management of families in which children resist contact with one parent and become aligned with the other following divorce. Families affected by these dynamics require disproportionate resources and time from mental health and legal professionals, and cases require a specialized clinical approach. Traditional models of individual and family therapy are not designed to address these issues, and strategies and resources for mental health and legal professionals have been extremely limited. Overcoming Parent-Child Contact Problems describes interventions for families experiencing a high conflict divorce impasse where a child is resisting contact with a parent. It examines in detail one such intervention, the Overcoming Barriers approach, involving the entire family and combining psycho-education and clinical intervention. The book is divided into two parts: Part I presents an overview of parental alienation, including clinical approaches and a critical analysis of the many challenges associated with traditional outpatient family-based interventions. Part II presents the Overcoming Barriers approach, describing core aspects of the intervention and ways to adapt its clinical techniques to outpatient practice. Overcoming Parent-Child Contact Problems is geared toward mental health clinicians and legal professionals who work with families in high conflict and where a child resists visitation with a parent.

An acclaimed spokesperson for equality at the helm of And Baby, a pioneer magazine, radio show, and TV series on alternative parenting, Michelle Darné found herself at once callously erased from the lives of her children and silenced by the law. Parent Deleted is a gripping tale of one non-biological, lesbian mother's fight for her children—an intimate, infuriating, and infectious story of perseverance, sacrifice, and hope in the face of debilitating adversity. And it is a courageous, disturbing, and necessary exposé of a likely emergent social justice frontier: the rights of all children to be with their parents, whether they are biologically linked, straight, gay, prepared or knocked up, perfect spouses or fallible ones.

This book draws upon the author's first-hand clinical experience as an Expert Witness in child and family legal proceedings to explore the success of psychotherapy assessments and interventions. Focusing on families who are seeking to be re-united after the removal of their children into foster care, Mike Davies discusses critical aspects of therapy which can help to identify and engage those who will benefit from additional support. Chapters combine heuristic, case studies, and narrative research methodologies, considering parents'stories, self-identity issues and assessment criteria, to uncover an emerging framework that illuminates an innovative therapeutic approach. Divided into three parts, the book develops a comprehensive overview of and thorough investigation into therapeutic assessment during childcare legal proceedings, including explorations into crucial issues such as how and why some families are granted therapeutic intervention, as well as the level of understanding and expertise that professionals and local services can provide in these contexts.Therapeutic Assessment and Intervention in Childcare Legal Proceedings will be of key reading for researchers, academics and postgraduate students in the fields of child and adolescent mental health, law, social work and psychotherapy. The book will also be of interest to social workers, expert psychologists, psychotherapists, family therapists, psychiatrists, and those specialising in public law.

This authoritative reference brings together leading experts for up-to-date theory, findings, and guidelines on the core aspects of child custody evaluations. Contributors offer steps for gathering more accurate family data through home observations, interviews, and collateral information. Chapters examine psychological assessment tools commonly used in evaluations, including measures relating to parenting competencies, mental illness, domestic violence, and substance abuse, and consider increasingly salient issues such as relocation and families in therapy. The section on case studies shows best practices applied in real-life custody situations, and a chapter authored by a family court judge offers rarely-seen perspective from the bench. Featured in the Handbook: · A survey of ethical and professional issues.· Observing and interviewing children, adolescents, and adults.· Psychological assessment and personality testing.· A detailed review of the Bricklin scales.· Specialized issues, including parental alienation, attachment, cults, and more.· Illustrative case studies and psychological reports.Mental health professionals who conduct child custody evaluations, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists clinical social workers, family and marriage counselors, and licensed clinical professional counselors, will appreciate the Handbook of Child Custody. Family law attorneys will also find the Handbook useful in assisting them in child custody litigation. Its thorough coverage will aid evaluators in making recommendations that are professional, ethical, andimpartial, and family lawyers in understanding the evaluation process and preparing for expert testimony.

More so than in any other form of forensic evaluation, mental health professionals who conduct parenting plan evaluations must have an understanding of the most current evidence in the areas of child development, optimal parenting plans across various populations, behavioral psychology, family violence, and legal issues to inform their opinions. In addition, family law judges and legal professionals require the best available evidence to support their decisions and positions. Parenting Plan Evaluations has become the go-to source for the most current empirical evidence in the field of child custody disputes. Fully updated in this Second Edition, the volume continues its focus on translating and implementing research associated with the most important topics within the family court. It presents an organized and in-depth analysis of the latest research and offers specific recommendations for applying these findings to the issues in child custody disputes. Written by international experts in the field, chapters cover the most important and complex issues that arise in family court, such as attachment and overnight timesharing with very young children, co-parenting children with chronic medical conditions and developmental disorders, domestic violence during separation and divorce, alienation, gay and lesbian co-parents, and relocation, among others. This volume assists forensic mental health professionals to proffer empirically based opinions, conclusions, and recommendations and assists family law judges and attorneys in evaluating the reliability of the information provided to the courts by mental health professionals in their reports and testimony. Not just for forensic evaluators, Parenting Plan Evaluations is a must-read for legal practitioners, family law judges and attorneys, and other professionals seeking to understand more about the science behind parenting plan evaluations.

Grenzüberschreitende Kindesentführung wirft komplexe Rechtsfragen auf, in denen sowohl Regelungen der Europäischen Union als auch völkerrechtliche Verträge eine Rolle spielen. Die Autorin geht diesen Fragen nach und bietet Lösungsvorschläge an. Dabei untersucht sie das Zusammenspiel der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 2201/2003 (Brüssel IIa) und des Haager Kinderschutzübereinkommens (KSÜ) mit dem Haager Kindesentführungsübereinkommen (HKÜ) mit Fokus auf dem Kindeswohl. Besondere Aktualität erhält das Buch durch bevorstehende Pläne der EU zur Reform der Brüssel-IIa-Verordnung.

In Children Held Hostage, Stanley Clawar and Brynne Rivlin use important new research involving over 1,000 families to demonstrate that children can and are being used by parents in the divorce battle. Their research shows how negative actions by parents toward their children show up in court proceedings where children testify or are questioned by mental health professionals. The major issue in confronting this problem of programmed and brainwashed children has been identification of a child alienated by one parent against the other; proving it in court; and then finding a solution that not only works, but that a court will buy into. The updated edition of Children Held Hostage explains these issues in detail, with practice-focused explanations on every step in the process. The authors offer further insights into gender issues and differences. Other new material includes a social-psychological profile of programmers and brainwashers; identification of the most commonly asked questions by judges, target parents, lawyers and children; an expanded social explanation to the causes, impact, and interventions; development of an abductor profile; charts to visualize key findings and processes; and much more.

Each year, over one and a half million children experience the divorce of their parents. The goal of this book is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge regarding children of divorce, especially the practice of evaluation as it pertains to child custody. The reality of custody evaluation work invokes a plethora of specific circumstances regarding each family that must be taken into consideration. To work towards this goal, the author integrates scientific findings, relevant theory, and professional experience in a manner that is conceptually sound and useful in practice. Each chapter begins with a Practice Checklist to emphasize what is needed to engage in careful deliberation. Major topics include: applications of game theory to child custody; uncertainty in judgment from Nobel Prize-winning research; time sharing; collecting information from parents and collaterals; observing parental interaction with children; parental alienation; research on strategic behavior in divorce disputes; and gatekeeping. In addition, domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, relocation, report writing, ethics, guidelines, risk management, and practice improvement are discussed. This book also contains important new research on the PAI, PCRI, and MMPI-2 specific to child custody evaluation. This well-written text is an excellent resource for domestic relations attorneys, judges, family counselors, child protection workers, human services, advocates, and mental health professionals.

Parenting Coordination (PC) is a non-adversarial process designed to minimize the impact of high-conflict custody disputes through parent education, mediation, conflict resolution, and intensive case management. Since 2004, the APA Practice Organization has been involved in the development of Parenting Coordination programs and in developing guidelines for practitioners. This is the first book to address the contemporary scope of the field. It brings together leading figures in PC practice, training, publication, and research.

Die vorliegende Studie untersucht den Einfluss der Obsorgeregelung bzw. der Inanspruchnahme von Beratung, auf den Stellenwert des „Kindeswohls“, im Bewusstsein geschiedener Eltern. In Österreich trat 2001 das Kindschaftsrechts-Änderungsgesetz in Kraft, wodurch die Obsorge beider Eltern auch nach einer Scheidung zum Regelfall wurde. Zwecks Evaluierung dieses Gesetzes, wurde vom BM für Justiz eine Studie in Auftrag gegeben, in deren Rahmen eine Elternbefragung durchgeführt wurde. Der dabei verwendete Fragebogen enthielt neben mehreren geschlossenen Fragen zur Scheidung, Obsorge und Belastung der Kinder, die Frage nach den Wünschen der Eltern. Die Antworten der Eltern wurden zunächst dahingehend untersucht, ob in ihnen Wünsche thematisiert wurden, die aus psychoanalytisch-pädagogischer Sicht, als für das „Kindeswohl“ förderlich einzustufen sind. Dabei wurde von der Annahme ausgegangen, dass das „Kindeswohl“, wenn es zum Zeitpunkt der Beantwortung im Bewusstsein der Eltern war, generell einen hohen Stellenwert im Bewusstsein der Eltern hat. Anschließend wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen dem derart festgestellten Stellenwert des „Kindeswohls“ im Bewusstsein der Eltern und der Obsorgeregelung bzw. der Inanspruchnahme von Beratung im Scheidungsverlauf untersucht. Schließlich wurde jene (obsorge-/beratungsspezifischen) Gruppe von geschiedenen Eltern ermittelt, für die bewusstseinsbildende Maßnahmen ergriffen werden sollten, um das „Kindeswohl“ verstärkt in deren Bewusstsein zu verankern. Zunächst erfolgt die Darstellung des theoretischen Kontexts der Untersuchung, ehe das Forschungsdesign und das methodische Vorgehen erläutert, sowie die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung präsentiert, interpretiert und diskutiert werden.

In custody battles over the children of separated parents, the prevailing standard of evaluating what is in the'best interests of the child'has been scrutinized because of the discretionary nature of what is'best'and because of the bias in favour of the child residing in one'primary residence.'In response, a consensus is beginning to emerge that it is vitally important that children maintain meaningful relationships with both parents after divorce. In The Equal Parent Presumption, Edward Kruk proposes a child-focused approach based on a standard that considers the best interests of the child from the perspective of the child and a responsibility-to-needs orientation to social justice for children and families. Challenging previous research and received ideas, Kruk presents an evidence-based framework of equal parental responsibility as the most effective means of ensuring the protection of family relationships following divorce, and shielding children from ongoing parental conflict and family violence. The existing system of determining parental rights and responsibilities is harming families. The Equal Parent Presumption addresses a major barrier to the principle of gender equality in parenting after divorce, and proposes a viable alternative to sole custody in the form of a legal presumption of shared and equal parenting.

Wie passen rechtliche Regelungen, individuelles Verhalten sowie gesellschaftliches Verständnis von'elterlicher Sorge'zusammen? Vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen juristischen Debatte um das gemeinsame Sorgerecht nicht miteinander verheirateter Eltern dokumentiert dieses Buch neueste wissenschaftliche Befunde. Vorgestellt werden unter anderem Auswertungen der amtlichen Statistik, insbesondere Ergebnisse eigener quantitativer und qualitativer Befragungen von Eltern, die zum Zeitpunkt der Geburt eines gemeinsamen Kindes nicht miteinander verheiratet waren, sowie von einschlägigen Fachkräften aus Standes- und Jugendämtern. Diese Ergebnisse werden im Kontext juristischer Analysen diskutiert, die einen internationalen Vergleich und die rechtshistorische Entwicklung umfassen.

Damit Kinder nach Trennung oder Scheidung ihrer Eltern eine gute tragfähige Beziehung zu Mutter und Vater behalten, entscheiden sich immer mehr Eltern für das sogenannte Wechselmodell: Die Kinder leben abwechselnd bei Mutter und Vater. Dies wirft sowohl rechtliche als auch psychologische und pädagogische Fragen auf. Die Autorin stellt die Rechtslage sowie die Rechtsprechung zum Wechselmodell umfassend dar. Die internationale psychologische Forschung bietet interessante neue Erkenntnisse zu der Frage, ob diese Lebens- und Betreuungsform für die kindliche Entwicklung gut ist. Hieraus werden die notwendigen Konsequenzen für die Rechtsprechung entwickelt sowie Vorschläge für die praktische Durchführung der Kinderbe-treuung im Wechselmodell.

When conducting parenting plan evaluations, mental health professionals need to be aware of a myriad of different factors. More so than in any other form of forensic evaluation, they must have an understanding of the most current findings in developmental research, behavioral psychology, attachment theory, and legal issues to substantiate their opinions. As such there is an essential need for a text focused on translating and implementing research associated with the most important topics within the family court. This book addresses this gap in the literature by presenting an organized and in-depth analysis of the current research and offering specific recommendations for applying these findings to the evaluation process. Written by experts in the child custody arena, chapters cover issues associated with the most important and complex issues that arise in family court, such as attachment and overnight timesharing with very young children, dynamics between divorced parents and children's potential for resiliency, co-parenting children with chronic medical conditions and developmental disorders, domestic violence during separation and divorce, gay and lesbian co-parents, and relocation, among others. The scientific information provided in these chapters assists forensic mental health professionals to proffer empirically-based opinions, conclusions and recommendations. Parenting Plan Evaluations is a must-read for legal practitioners, family law judges and attorneys, and other professionals seeking to understand more about the science behind child custody evaluations.

Ending a bad personal relationship is extremely complicated when the relationship is transnational. Women whose partners are abusive often turn to family members for assistance. When this means leaving one nation for another with one's children, Hague Convention (1980) international treaties come into play. All too often, the mother is charged with child abduction and forced to return the children to an abusive father. Drawing on a series of true-life stories, the authors reveal important dimensions of domestic law, interpretations of children's best interests, and the legal rationales required to ensure safety for battered women and their children across international boundaries.

​ ​ This book resolves a key problem that all evaluators need to attend to:, i.e., what constructs ought to be measured?, all the while giving them practical ways of doing this. It also presents data showing family court judges like the model, and it does this fairly briefly but in a way that is nicely embedded in the research literature.

International child abduction occurs when one parent wrongfully (ie in breach of the parental responsibility of the other parent) takes a child to a country other than that of the child's habitual residence, or wrongfully keeps a child in such country. The author of this work was part of a research team that conducted a study, partially funded by the European Commission, to examine this problem in Belgium and Hungary, analysing cases from 2007 and 2008 and interviewing affected parents. This book is a revised version of the Belgian research report, which sets the problem of child abduction within its international context. It looks at the families in which abductions took place, how preparations were made for abduction, the quest for the return of the child (including legal proceedings) and the aftermath of the abductions. Throughout the book, the results of the quantitative and qualitative data are explained. What emerges is that when a child is abducted, the solutions offered by the law are often inadequate. Family conflict is a complex societal issue, and child abduction is a severe form of family conflict. Rather than responding to child abduction with strict and contentious legal proceedings, the book argues that solutions based on respect, psychological assistance, and a search for consensus should be favoured.

This book compares the experiences and progress of children who remained in care or returned to their birth families up to four years after the decision was taken. It covers how the decision is made, the factors taken into account when making it and provides important suggestions for effective decision-making.

There are few areas of public policy in the Western world where there is as much turbulence as in family law. Often the disputes are seen in terms of an endless war between the genders. Reviewing developments over the last 30 years in North America, Europe and Australasia, Patrick Parkinson argues that, rather than just being about gender, the conflicts in family law derive from the breakdown of the model on which divorce reform was predicated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Experience has shown that although marriage may be freely dissoluble, parenthood is not. Dealing with the most difficult issues in family law, this book charts a path for law reform that recognizes that the family endures despite the separation of parents, while allowing room for people to make a fresh start and prioritizing the safety of all concerned when making decisions about parenting after separation.

Immer noch sind es Frauen, die nach einer Trennung/Scheidung in der Regel die Verantwortung für ihre Kinder übernehmen. Sie möchten ihre Kinder beschützen, müssen sich aber zugleich mit rechtlichen Bestimmungen auseinandersetzen und möglicherweise auch noch befürchten, dass der Ex-Partner nicht bereit ist, finanzielle Unterstützung gegenüber der Familie zu leisten. Ebenso müssen sie befürchten, dass sie das Sorgerecht verlieren oder ein Umgangsrecht nicht abwenden können, auch wenn sie vom Partner jahrelang physisch und psychisch misshandelt wurden. Die Reformierung des Umgangsrechts gemäß § 1684 BGB hat bewirkt, dass alle Väter, egal ob verheiratet oder nicht, ein durchsetzbares Umgangsrecht erhalten haben, und unabhängig von dem Sorgerecht einen Rechtsstreit allein durch das Umgangsrecht initiieren können. Erhält ein Vater kein Sorgerecht, kann er immer noch durch das Umgangsrecht an das Kind herantreten. Das bedeutet, dass der Umgang des Kindes mit dem Vater auch gegen den Willen des Kindes oder der Mutter durchgesetzt werden kann. Das hat zur Folge, dass besonders häufig die Mutter für eine verweigernde Haltung des Kindes verantwortlich gemacht werden kann und durch gesetzlich vollstreckbare Sanktionen (Geldstrafe, Sorgerechtsentzug oder Haftstrafe) bedroht ist. Väter hingegen haben in den seltensten Fällen Sanktionen zu befürchten, wenn sie den Umgang ablehnen. Ebenso bedeutet dies, dass der Vater weiterhin Zugriff auf die familiäre Situation der Mutter hat. Es ist eine Situation für Frauen entstanden, in der sie rechtliche Forderungen im Sinne ihres Kindes möglicherweise nicht durchsetzen können und letztlich dafür bestraft werden, wenn sie nicht im Sinne der Gesetzgebung handeln. Auch wenn sie als Hauptbezugspersonen ihrer Kinder berechtigte Motive für ablehnendes Verhalten haben. Die Rechtsprechungen hängen jeweils von der Glaubwürdigkeit und der Beweiskraft der Mutter sowie vom fachlichen Wissen und Einfühlungsvermögen des Richters ab. D.h. durch die unterschiedlichen Auffassungsgaben und Interpretationsmuster der Richter können in vergleichbaren Fällen unterschiedliche Entscheidungen gefällt werden. Die Gesetzgebung hat jedem Vater ein gestärktes Umgangsrecht eingeräumt. Doch gibt es keine Statistiken, die belegen, dass Väter sich mehr an der Familienarbeit sprich Haushalt und Kinderbetreuung beteiligen. Dennoch wird in der Bevölkerung ein anderes Bild der Väter verbreitet und die Forderungen beziehen sich auf die Rechte der Väter am Kind. Dies entspricht nicht der Realität, im Gegenteil, die meisten Väter übernehmen nach einer Trennung kaum Verantwortung für die Kinder, da sie eher dazu neigen, ihre eigenen Ziele nach einer Trennung zu verfolgen. Nicht selten ergreifen sie die Flucht und sind unauffindbar oder mittellos. Einige Änderungen im Umgangsrecht sind zweifelhaft und zeigen deutlich, dass Männer wieder mehr Macht und Kontrolle erhalten. Es sind flexible gesetzliche Bestimmungen entstanden, die die Frauen und ihre Kinder besonders stark benachteiligen. Dabei stellt sich immer wieder die Frage, ob sich patriarchale Privilegien vermehrt durchsetzen und die erreichte Gleichberechtigung der Frauen schleichend verdrängen.

Zerfallende Familien gehören immer mehr zum Bild unserer heutigen Gesellschaft. Leidtragende sind hierbei vor allem die Kinder. Die Funktion der Familie und ihre denkbaren Erscheinungsformen müssen daher vollkommen neu überdacht werden. Dies stellt auch das Sorgerecht auf den Prüfstand. Vor allem wächst die Notwendigkeit, flexiblere Formen für die Wahrnehmung der elterlichen Verantwortung zu schaffen und die Kinder vor den Folgen des Auseinanderbrechens der Familie so gut es geht zu schützen. Der Gesetzgeber hat mit dem Kindschaftsrechtsreformgesetz von 1998 versucht, hierauf eine Antwort zu geben. So hat er ein komplexes Netz sorgerechtlicher Wertung eingeführt und dem zentralen Maßstab des Kindeswohls eine neue Bedeutung gegeben. Sarah Meckling untersucht das sich darin ausdrückende neue Verständnis der elterlichen Sorge anhand der gemeinsamen Trennungssorge. Zudem weist sie die fundamentale Umgestaltung des rechtlichen Eltern-Kind-Verhältnisses nach. Die Autorin bestimmt dabei Zielsetzung und Reichweite gemeinsamer Trennungssorge zum einen im Lichte der Sorgerechtsentwicklung seit der Antike, zum anderen anhand der Rechtsentwicklung seit dem Inkrafttreten des Reformgesetzes. Kern der Arbeit ist eine klare Abgrenzung zwischen der gemeinsamen Trennungssorge und der Alleinsorge. Zugleich bietet sie eine Lösungsmöglichkeit für die seit vielen Jahrzehnten umstrittene Frage nach dem Verhältnis zwischen gemeinsamer Trennungssorge und Alleinsorge.

When relationships break down, disputes commonly arise over the parenting arrangements for children, whose living arrangements have to be reorganized at a time of great conflict and turmoil. Most such disputes are resolved without a judicial determination through private agreement, negotiation between lawyers, mediation, or a combination of these methods. This book examines whether and how children should be involved in the process of resolving family law disputes. Although there is widespread acceptance in the Western world that the views of children should be taken into account, and that the weight given to those views should depend on their age and maturity, there is much less agreement about how children's voices should be heard. There are many benefits to giving children a voice in decisions that affect their lives, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child identifies this as a right for children. However, there are difficulties and dangers in seeking to hear from children, not least because they may be subject to pressure from each parent to express views that support his or her case. Courts dealing with family law issues are constantly faced with a dilemma. Is it better to keep children out of the conflict, or to give them a say, so that the arrangements are as workable for them as possible? This book integrates examinations of these issues with empirical data from interviews which explore the views and experiences of children, parents, counsellors, mediators, lawyers, and judges involved in such disputes in Australia. Drawing on this research, the authors suggest ways in which children can better be heard without placing them at the centre of their parents'conflicts. They argue that the focus should not just be on how children are heard in legal proceedings, but on how they can be better heard in those families who resolve their conflicts without going to court.

Grandparents have long played important roles in the lives of their adult children and their grandchildren in our own as well as in many other cultures. Yet it has only been in the last 3 or 4 decades that grandparents have received the kind of academic scrutiny that other family members--especially mothers--have been receiving a century or more.This groundbreaking collection has targeted the essence of what occurs in the context of grandparents'efforts at parenting their grandchildren as well as the nature of these interactions. Indeed, grandparent's views on the adequacy of their parenting skills and the nature of their relationships with their grandchildren are at the heart of many of the difficulties and satisfactions associated with the resumption of the parenting role in middle and later life, and are of central importance in the lives and well-being of both custodial grandparents and their grandchildren. The volume, which will be of vital interest to family counselors, mental health practitioners, educators, school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and social service providers, approaches this issue from novel theoretical perspectives, presents new empirical data, and provides valuable suggestions for therapists who are treating grandparent-grandchild dyads. It is methodologically diverse, relying upon case studies, empirical findings, and national datasets. Additionally, it incorporates longitudinal work, which has been absent in research with grandparent caregivers to date. Most importantly, it defines new areas of understanding of custodial grandparents that are relevant to both researchers and practitioners, e.g., dealing with grief and loss, a focus on grandchildren, the interactional style of caregiving, parenting education, intergenerational ambivalence, and therefore, should provide fertile ground for work regarding these issues which are so central to the lives of custodial grandparents and their grandchildren.Highlighted coverage includes: Intergenerational relationships/intergenerational transmission of values and their implications for parenting among custodial grandparents the adjustments custodial grandchildren must make in the school system, viewed from the perspective of school personnel (an assistant principal and school counselor) the experiences/perceptions of adult children raised by their grandparents- impact on relationships with grandparents and the parenting of their own children the role of the adult parent in the context of grandparents raising grandchildren Each of these chapters will be written from an applied, practitioner perspective and stress the clinical implications of each issue.

n order to assist families embroiled in child custody disputes, Ithe courts order thousands of child custody evaluations each year. Some of these evaluations are brief, problem-focused asse- ments aimed at quickly resolving a specific area of dispute. Other evaluations are more comprehensive, covering all aspects of family functioning in complex cases. The process of ordering, conducting, or assessing either type of child custody evaluation requires a clear understanding of how legal and psychological issues are int- twined in each case. This book is designed to meet this need for a comprehensive guide that combines legal information and forensic procedures with the social science research that must be the basis for all custody recommendations and decisions. The book should be helpful to three separate but related groups of experienced professionals: (a) family and probate judges, (b) family practice attorneys, and (c) forensic mental health professionals. Before they can order a custody evaluation and use the inf- mation it provides, judges must have a clear understanding of how to integrate clinical information about each family with the related social science research. This book will also enable judges to assess each custody report in terms of (a) the professional and legal gui- lines for conducting custody evaluations, and (b) research-based criteria in each area of family functioning. The text and CD also offer examples of how best to write orders for custody evaluations, and detailed parenting plans that address the issues in each family.

Helle Amin seemed to have the perfect life on the tropical island of Bali with her husband and four children. But one day in 2002 this idyllic existence was shattered when she returned home from a shopping trip to find her children gone. It didn't take long to discover that her Saudi Arabian husband had taken them to live in his home country.With her children thousands of miles away in the totally unfamiliar surroundings of an Islamic state, Helle drew upon her remarkable courage. Enlisting the help of her friends, she set off for the desert in a desperate attempt to find her beloved boys. Her journey was filled with drama, danger, excitement and sorrow. In the astonishing struggle that followed, Helle was reduced to catching occasional glimpses of her boys as they went to and from school in Jeddah. Some women might have given up, but not Helle. In a male-dominated society, she prepared her case and demanded justice in the Saudi courts.After a long battle, Helle and her boys were reunited forever, and as a testament to her bravery she was a recent Tesco Mum of the Year winner. This gripping story cannot fail to touch any reader's heart and is packed with adventure, heartache and joy.

After setting up home on the tropical island of Bali with her husband and four children, Helle Amin seemed to have the perfect life. But one day in 2001 Helle's idyllic existence was shattered. She returned home from a shopping trip one evening to find that her children, who should have been safely tucked in their beds, had disappeared. It didn't take Helle long to discover that her Saudi Arabian husband had taken them away to live in his home country. With her children thousands of miles away in totally unfamiliar surroundings, Helle drew upon her remarkable courage and set off for the desert in a desperate attempt to find her beloved boys. Her journey was filled with drama, danger, excitement, and sorrow. In the astonishing struggle that followed Helle was reduced to catching occasional, snatched glimpses of her children as they were taken to and from school in Jeddah. She took a job at an international school in the city and began her campaign for access. After a series of dramatic twists and turns, Helle was reunited forever with her boys. This fascinating and gripping story cannot fail to touch any reader's heart and is packed with adventure, heartache, and joy.

يبين هذا الكتاب للقارئ مكانة المرأة في كافة العصور و في جميع الأديان السماوية, و الدساتير و التشريعات الوضعية و الأتفاقات و المعاهدات الدولية, و حقوقها وواجباتها نحو أسرتها ووطنها, ووقفتها إلي جانب الرجل في كافة المجالات

'The Clinician's Guide to Child Custody Evaluations, Third Edition is written by one of the leaders in the field. it is as essential to the subject of child custody as the stethoscope is to medicine. This edition, an update of a classic, is a must-read for everyone from the novice to the expert's expert.'- Leslie M. Drozd, PhD, Editor, Journal of Child Custody A practical and comprehensive guide for conducting child custody evaluations. Clinician's Guide to Child Custody Evaluations addresses the entire custody evaluation process from beginning to end. This New Third Edition reflects the abundant recent research in this area, including new evaluating and testing findings and new ethical guidelines from the APA. This edition also features fully up-to-date coverage of important legal decisions affecting child custody. With many chapters completely revised and rewritten, the third Edition covers: • Roles the mental health Practitioner can play and operate within the legal arena • What encompasses a custody evaluation • Ethical considerations and responsibilities involved in custody disputes • How to interview, make behavioral observations, and collect collateral information • Standards, applicability,and administration of tests • Specialized child custody instruments such as the Ackerman-Schoendorf Scales for Parent Evaluation of Custody (ASPECT) • How divorce affect families • Evaluating parents'behavior • How to prepare for the courtroom process • Maltreatment, including neglect, abuse, and domestic violence • Placement schedules • How to write reports, draw conclusions, and render opinions Each chapter ends with critical issues for the practitioner to consider. The accessible reference format provides a quick review of relevant discussions in the text. In addition, this book includes convenient guides to relevant legal terms, documents forms, APA guidelines, and codes of conduct. Based not only on current research but also on the author's considerable experience with thousands of evaluations, Clinician's Guide to Child Custody Evaluations is the definitive guide to this field for students and practitioners.

This comprehensive book provides a balanced overview of the current research on divorce. The authors examine the scientific evidence to uncover what can be said with certainty about divorce and what remains to be learned about this socially and politically charged issue. Accessible to parents and teachers as well as clinicians and researchers, the volume examines the impact of marital breakup on children, adults, and society. Alison Clarke-Stewart and Cornelia Brentano synthesize the most up-to-date information on divorce from a variety of disciplinary perspectives with thoughtful analysis of psychological issues. They convey the real-life consequences of divorce with excerpts from autobiographies by young people, and they also include guidelines for social policies that would help to diminish the detrimental effects of divorce.

This unique book examines variability among custodial grandparent caregivers. It focuses on diversity among grandparent-headed families in domestic and international settings, with over 35 contributors exploring the many factors that contribute to such diversity. It also examines diversity across individual differences, especially those of gender and age, ethnicity and race, and culture. An awareness of their uniqueness is essential to the process of understanding the demands of custodial grandparents'new roles, and in providing appropriate services to them. Whatever the reason, most grandparents raising grandchildren never anticipated that they would parent again. For most, this new role causes significant upheaval in their lives. Problems contributing to stress may include having to give up or reduce hours of work, early retirement, and providing financial and emotional support for their grandchildren. This book is a valuable resource for practitioners and extension educators who work with grandparents raising their grandchildren. It provides a wealth of information and a basis on which national and state-run services can evaluate their current policies and devise funds, services, and programs that will help this growing population successfully raise their grandchildren.

Child Custody and Domestic Violence: A Call for Safety and Accountability focuses on the complexity of the challenges facing judges, lawyers, legislators, and mental health professionals in developing safe and effective strategies for resolving custody disputes. Jaffe, Lemon, and Poisson integrate the most recent clinical and legal issues in the field in considering the prevalence of divorce and domestic violence as well as the relevance of domestic violence in custody disputes. The authors outline the essential differences between custody disputes with and without allegations and findings of domestic violence, and the different analysis and distinct interventions by judges, policymakers, and mental health professionals necessary in domestic violence cases. Key Features: Addresses difficult issues such as parent alienation syndrome, false allegations, and mutual abuse Reviews recent legislation and guidelines in custody disputes involving domestic violence in four countries: the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia Outlines significant judicial decisions in custody disputes, highlighting the inconsistency and unpredictability of the decisions and their impact on the desired outcome Offers recommendations for legislative improvements, increased training for legal and mental health professionals, enhanced services and programs, and the development of new policies to deal with domestic violence in custody disputes Legal and mental health professionals who provide services to divorcing parents will find this a much-needed reference, as will anyone whose life has been affected by child custody disputes and domestic violence.

Moving beyond simply describing the differences between custodial and noncustodial grandparents, this volume places helping efforts with grandparents in theoretical, empirical, and pragmatic contexts. Stressing the importance of theoretically grounded interventions and empirically-based studies for the design, implementation, and funding of programs, the chapters define an'action-oriented'approach toward changing the lives of grandparents and their grandchildren. Topics include: In what ways do support groups help; Caring for children with developmental disabilities; Predictors of psychological distress; Building parenting skills; and Strategies for solving everyday problems, among others.

This practical textbook is a step-by-step guide that walks clinicians through the often-confusing world of depositions and courtroom testimony. The editors bring clarity and coherence to these complex and often highly charged clinical and legal issues by emphasizing evidence-based research within an easy-to-read outline format.

When re-married couples bring their families together, they face unique challenges. Somehow, they must bring unity out of diversity. Maxine Marsolini points to biblical solutions to the conflict commonly found in divorce and remarriage situations.'Growth and Application'questions make this an excellent resource for small groups or Christian counseling.