| Child Welfare Agencies' Potential Malpractice Liability for Inadequate or Inappropriate Foster Care Services |
| If a child welfare agency or caseworker determines that a child needs to be moved into protective custody, the agency's duty to that child is not discharged. The agency or caseworker has a continuing duty to ensure that the child is not mistreated in her foster care home. More... |
| Out of State Move by Custodial Parent |
| In most states, courts permit a custodial parent to move out of state with the child if the parent has a legitimate reason for the move. Thus, noncustodial parents who seek to enjoin the custodial parent from moving or who seek to modify custody on the basis of a proposed move are generally unsuccessful. More... |
| The Multiethnic Placement Act |
| The Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) is a federal law, enacted in 1994, that prohibits racial and ethnic discrimination in connection with adoptions and foster care. A 1996 amendment, called "Removal of Barriers to Interethnic Adoption," reaffirmed and strengthened the MEPA. More... |
| Personal Protection Orders and Family Violence Issues |
| A personal protection order, or PPO, is an order issued by the court precluding another individual, a respondent, from contact with the petitioner. A petitioner may file an application for a PPO after providing information that would support the grant of the order. More... |
| Civil Harassment |
| Domestic violence cases involve a special relationship between the parties. The special relationship may be created by: (1) a family relationship, such as husband and wife; or (2) cohabitation, i.e., the parties live together. Civil harassment cases do not involve a special relationship between the parties. A civil harassment complaint may be filed against any person, even if that person is not a spouse or a cohabitant. More... |


