The next frontier of parent–child contact problems-the wild-west of court-ordered reunification therapy

Abstract

The family courts have become deeply muddled in seeking to repair parent–child relationships that go significantly beyond making custody and parenting orders by ordering children and the non-aligned parent to participate in reunification therapy. Absent guidelines on the scope of court-ordered reunification therapy or resources supporting these programs, we have a wild west of judges making vague and overbroad orders that are often overturned as being contrary to the children's best interest. This Note intends to recommend statutory criteria and model proposed orders when reunification therapy is ordered to promote better and safer outcomes for families.