Legal Resources
Bonding & Attachment
Adoption in Child Time (ACT) is a
not-for-profit advocacy group which promotes early permanence for children
in out-of-home care. ACT seeks to further the goals of the Adoption and Safe
Families Act (ASFA) which has been the law of our land since 1997. While
operating in Indiana, ACT addresses issues which are of concern nationwide.
The making and breaking of affectional bonds... - The British Journal of
Psychiatry
Bonding and attachment in mistreated children - The Child Trauma Academy
Attachment 101 for Attorneys
Implications for Infant Change of Placement Decisions
- Adoption in Child Time
-
Bonding Is a Vital Issue: Appellate Courts Agree
(PDF
version for printing)
Bonding has too often been loosely defined. Mental health professionals, in
their reports, have been vague and fuzzy, offering opinion rather than data,
generalizations rather than facts. As a result, courts and case managers may
not have given bonding the critical consideration it deserves. Includes
references.
-
Presenting Bonding in Court (PDF
version for printing)
Foster parents need legal representation when they wish to adopt.
Unfortunately, many have been hesitant to speak out for fear of being labeled
as troublemakers. The opposite may be true. Foster parents who are
appropriately assertive are more apt to be fully heard.
-
Roadblocks to Permanence (PDF
version for printing)
Attorneys who wish to help foster children obtain permanent homes through
adoption face many obstacles. Their problem, however, comes at the end of a
long list of prior problems. Includes references.
-
Everything You Need to Know About Bonding
(PDF
version for printing)
Bonding, when it occurs, is critical to a child’s development. The disruption
of a bonded relationship does considerable damage. The presentation and proof
of bonding between the child and the foster/adopt parents may be the strongest
argument for keeping them together, especially in a contested adoption. The
problem for attorneys is to define bonding and to prove in a factual and
evidentiary way that bonding has taken place. Includes references.
-
What Happens When Bonded Relationships Are Interrupted
(PDF
version for printing)
Interrupting or severing bonded relationships takes a heavy toll on human
health and well-being. It is as serious as brain surgery, death or divorce.
The younger the child and the deeper the bond, the more devastating the
result. Includes references.
-
The Child's Rights Are Paramount (PDF
version for printing)
Children have the right to grow up whole and sane. Parents, on the other hand,
have both the responsibility and the right to raise their “own” children. At
what point do these two sets of rights conflict? Whose rights have precedence?
Includes references.
-
Additional References for Bonding and Attachment
-
Federal Law Pertaining to Adoption (PDF
version for printing)
This unit presents the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act which defines
current child welfare policy and federal adoption law. The section includes:
1) An historical overview of child welfare legislation; 2) A summary of the
Adoption and Safe Families Act provided by the Child Welfare League of
America; 3) A copy of the actual Adoption and Safe Families Act.
State Court Web Sites
Quick
Jump Table
A C D
F G H
I K L
M N O P
R S
T U V
W
Alabama
o
Judiciary
Home
o Administrative
Office of Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Civil Appeals
o Court
of Criminal Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o District
Courts (not available)
o Probate
Courts (complete list not available)
o
Mobile
County Probate Court
o Municipal
Courts (complete list not available)
o Athens
Municipal Court
o Court
Structure Chart
o Alalinc:
Alabama's Legal Information Network
Alaska
o Court
System Home
o Appellate
Courts (Supreme Ct, Ct of Appeals)
o Trial
Courts calendars, records, etc. (Superior Ct, District Ct.)
o Court
Directory (address information)
o Court
Structure Chart
o Alaska
Judicial Council
Top
Arizona
o Judicial
Branch
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals - Division One
o Court
of Appeals - Division Two
o Superior
Courts (contact info)
o
Superior Court websites (incomplete list)
o Justice
of the Peace Courts
o Municipal
Courts
o
Glendale
Municipal Court
o
Scottsdale
City Court
o
Tempe Municipal Court
o Tuscon
City Court
o Tax
Court (division of Maricopa County Superior Court)
o Coconino
County Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Arkansas
o Judiciary
Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Judicial
Directory
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o District
Courts
o City
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
California
o Judicial
Branch
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Courts
of Appeal
o Superior
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Colorado
o Judicial
Branch
o Office
of the State Court Administrator
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o District
Courts
o Denver
Probate Court
o Denver
Juvenile Court
o Water
Courts
o County
Courts
o Municipal
Courts (complete list not available)
o
Colorado Springs Municipal Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Connecticut
o
Judicial Branch
o
Supreme and Appellate Court
o Superior
Courts
o Probate
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
Delaware
o
State Court Home
o
Supreme Court
o
Court of Chancery
o
Superior Court
o
Court of Common Pleas
o
Family Court
o
Justice of the Peace Court
o
Alderman’s Court
o Court
Structure Chart
District of Columbia
o
Courts Home
o
Court of Appeals
o
Superior Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Florida
o State
Courts Home
o Judicial
Administration
o Supreme
Court
o District
Courts of Appeal
o Circuit
Courts
o County
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Georgia
o Judicial
Branch
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Superior
Courts
o
Augusta Judicial Circuit
o
Gwinnett Judicial Circuit
o
Cobb Judicial Circuit
o Magistrate
Courts
o
Cherokee County Magistrate Court
o
Jasper County Magistrate Court
o Limited
Jurisdiction Courthouses (inc. Civil, County Recorder's, Probate, Municipal,
State, Juvenile, and City Court of Atlanta)
o Court
Structure Chart
Guam
o Supreme
Court
o Superior
Court
Hawaii
o Judiciary
Home
o Supreme
Court
o Intermediate
Court of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o Family
Courts
o District
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Idaho
o
State Judiciary
o Supreme
Court (information available in the Judicial Directory)
o Court
of Appeals (information available in the Judicial Directory)
o District
Courts
o Magistrate
Division (information available in the Judicial Directory)
o Judicial
Directory
o Tribal
Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
Illinois
o Judiciary
Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Appellate
Court
o Circuit
Courts
o Links
to Circuit Courts (incomplete)
o Court
Structure Chart
Indiana
o Courts
Home
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Tax
Court
o St.
Joseph Probate Court
o Superior
Courts
o Circuit
Courts
o Limited
Jurisdiction Courts (inc. County, City, and Town)
o Small
Claims Courts of Marion County
o Misc.
Trial Court Websites
o Court
Structure Chart
Iowa
o
Judicial Branch
o
Supreme Court
o Court
of Appeals
o District
Courts
(Directory)
o Court
Structure Chart
Kansas
o Judicial
Branch
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o District
Courts
o Municipal
Courts (currently not available)
o
Shawnee Municipal Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Kentucky
o Court
of Justice Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o District
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Louisiana
o Judicial
Administrator's Office
o Supreme
Court
o Courts
of Appeal
o District
Courts
o Justice
of the Peace Courts (not available)
o Mayor’s
Courts (not available)
o City
and Parish Courts (complete list not available)
o
Baton Rouge City
Court
o
Lafayette
Parish Court
o
Lake Charles
City Court
o Misc.
Courts (organized alphabetically by parish)
o Court
Structure Chart
o Misc.
Court Clerks
Maine
o Judicial
Branch
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Judicial Court
o Superior
Courts
o District
Courts
o Probate
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
Maryland
o Judiciary
Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Court
of Appeals
o Court
of Special Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o District
Courts
o Orphan's
Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Massachusetts
o Judical
Branch
o Supreme
Judicial Court
o Appeals
Court
o Superior
Court
o District
Court
o Boston
Municipal Court
o Juvenile
Court
o Housing
Court
o Land
Court
o Probate
and Family Court
o Bristol
County
o Hampshire
County
o Middlesex
County
o Plymouth
County
o Court
Structure Chart
Michigan
o Courts
Home
o State
Court Administrative Office
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Court
of Claims (30th Circuit)
o Circuit
Courts
o District
Courts (incomplete list)
o Probate
Courts (incomplete list)
o Courthouses
by County (inc. Municipal Courts)
o Court
Structure Chart
Minnesota
o Judicial
Branch
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o District
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Mississippi
o Judiciary
Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
(Directory)
o Court
of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
(Directory)
o Chancery
Courts
o County
Courts
o Justice
Courts
o Municipal
Courts (not available)
o Court
Structure Chart
Missouri
o Judiciary
Home
o Office
of State Courts Administrator
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o Phelps
County
o Municipal
Courts (not available)
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
Montana
o Court
Administrator's Office
o Supreme
Court
o Water
Court
o District
Courts
o Workers'
Compensation Court
o Courts
of Limited Jurisdiction (Justice, City,
and Municipal Courts)
o Court
Structure Chart
Nebraska
o Judical
Branch
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o District
Courts
o Juvenile
Courts
o County
Courts
o Workers'
Compensation Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Nevada
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o District
Courts
o Justice
Courts (incomplete)
o Municipal
Courts (incomplete)
o
Court Directory
o
Judicial Directory
o Court
Structure Chart
New Hampshire
o Judicial
Branch
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Superior
Courts
o Probate
Courts
o District
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
New Jersey
o Courts
Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Appellate
Division of Superior Court
o Superior
Courts
o Tax
Court
o Municipal
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
New Mexico
o Courts
Information Center
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o District
Courts (and more)
o Magistrate
Courts
o Bernalillo
County Metropolitan Court
o Municipal
Courts (not available)
o Probate
Courts (not available)
o Judicial
Directory
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
New York
o Court
System Home
o Office
of Court Administration
o Court
of Appeals
o Appellate
Divisions of Supreme Court
o Appellate
Terms of Supreme Court
o Supreme
Court
o County
Courts
o Court
of Claims
o Courts
by County (inc. Surrogate's, Family, District, and City)
o
Ithaca
City Court
o New
York City Civil Court
o New
York City Criminal Court
o Town
and Village Justice Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
North Carolina
o Court
System Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Superior
Courts
o District
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
North Dakota
o Office
of the State Court Administrator
o Supreme
Court
(Contact Info)
o District
Courts
o Municipal
Courts (list of judges)
o Court
Structure Chart
Ohio
o
Supreme Court
o Butler
County Common Pleas Court - Division of Domestic Relations
o Clermont
County Domestic Court
o Columbiana
County Clerk of Courts Office
o
County Courts
o
Courts of Appeal
o
Court of Claims
o
Court of Common Pleas
o Cuyahoga
County Probate Court
o Franklin
County Probate Court
o Hamilton
County Clerk of Courts
o Hamilton
County Juvenile Court
o Hamilton
County Probate Court
o Mahoning
County Domestic Relations Court
o
Mayors Courts
o
Groveport Mayor's Court
o
Upper Arlington Mayor's Court
o
Independence Mayor's Court
o
Dublin Mayor's
Court
o
Louisville Mayor's Court
o
Misc. Courts
o
Municipal Courts
o
Akron Municipal Court
o
Barberton Municipal Court
o
Brown County
Municipal Court
o
Canton Municipal Court
o
Delaware Municipal
Court
o
Franklin County Municipal
o
Hamilton
County Municipal Court
o
Marietta Municipal
Court
o
Medina
Municipal Court
o
Painesville
Municipal Court
o Ohio
Judicial Conference
o Stark
County Family Court
o Stark
County Probate Court
o
Trumbull
County Probate Court
o
Ohio Judicial
Conference
o Court
Structure Chart
Oklahoma
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Criminal Appeals
o Court
of Civil Appeals
o District
Courts
o Court
of Tax Review
o Municipal
Court Not of Record (not available)
o Municipal
Court of Record (not available)
o Judicial
Directory
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
Oregon
o Courts
Home
o Office
of the State Court Administrator
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Tax
Court
o Circuit
Courts
o County
Courts
o Justice
Courts
o Municipal
Courts
o
Eugene Municipal Court
o
Salem
Municipal Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Pennsylvania
o Unified
Judicial System Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court
o Commonwealth
Court
o Superior
Court
o Court
of Common Pleas
o Philadelphia
Municipal Court
o District
Justice Court
o Philadelphia
Traffic Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Puerto Rico
o
Office of Court
Administration
o Court
Structure Chart
Rhode Island
o Judicial
Home
o Supreme
Court
o Superior
Courts
o Workers'
Compensation Court
o District
Courts
o Family
Courts
o Traffic
Tribunal
o Municipal
Courts (not available)
o Probate
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
South Carolina
o
Judicial
Department Home
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o
Charleston County Courts
o Family
Courts (occupy same courthouses as Circuit Courts)
o Magistrate
Courts
o Probate
Courts
o Municipal
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
South Dakota
o
Unified Judicial System
Home
o
State Court Administration
o
Supreme Court and
Circuit Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Tennessee
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Appellate
Courts (Supreme, Appeals, Criminal Appeals)
o Judicial
District Courts (Circuit, Probate, Chancery, and Criminal found in drop-down
menu)
o Davidson
County Circuit Court Clerk
o Hamilton
County Judicial System
o Shelby
County Courts and Criminal Justice
o Juvenile
Courts
o Municipal
Courts (not available)
o General
Sessions Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
Texas
o Office
of Court Administration
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Criminal Appeals
o Court
of Appeals
o District
Courts
o Constitutional
County Courts
o Probate
Courts (Directory)
o County
Court at Law (not available)
o
Fort Bend County
Courts at Law
o Justice
of the Peace Courts
o Municipal
Courts
o Clerks
of the Texas Courts
o Texas
Judicial Web Server
o Court
Structure Chart
Utah
o State
Courts Home
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o District
Courts
o Juvenile
Courts
o Justice
Courts
o Directory
of Courthouses
o Court
Structure Chart
Vermont
o Judiciary
Home
o Supreme
Court
o Superior
Courts
o District
Courts
o Family
Courts
o Probate
Courts
o Environmental
Court
o Judicial
Bureau
o Court
Structure Chart
Virginia
o Judicial
System Home
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o District
Courts
o Court
Structure Chart
Virgin Islands
o Superior
Court
Washington
o Courts
Home
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court and Court of Appeals
o Supreme
Court Directory
o Court
of Appeals Directory
o Superior
Courts
o District
Courts
o Municipal
Courts
o Directory
by County
o Court
Structure Chart
West Virginia
o Administrative
Office of the Courts
o Supreme
Court of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts
o Magistrate
Courts
o Municipal
Courts (not available)
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
Wisconsin
o Judicial
Branch
o Supreme
Court
o Court
of Appeals
o Circuit
Courts (incomplete)
o Municipal
Courts
o
Milwaukee Municipal Court
o Court
Structure Chart
Wyoming
o Judiciary
Home
o Office
of State Court Administrator
o Supreme
Court
o District
Courts
o Circuit
Courts
o Justice
of the Peace Courts (not available)
o Municipal
Courts (incomplete)
o Court
Structure Chart
Top
Cite: National Center for State Courts
Please note state statute and court
opinion searches at:
http://family.findlaw.com/family/family-law-help/state-family-courts.html
It is also worth noting that many
trial courts also have docket listings on line. For example, Oakland County
Michigan now has a pilot project at
http://www.oakgov.com/crts0004/main . The Michigan Supreme Court's
web site has links to trial court web sites, and it does indicate a handful of
courts (with an *) that have some form of on-line docket information at
http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/services/dirs/tlinks.htm
The Michigan Court of Appeals and Supreme Court
docket info is located at
http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/resources/public.htm Searches can
be done by docket number, attorney number, attorney name, or party name.
There are hyperlinks to court orders an opinions in each case's docket listing
The
National Center for Adoption Law & Policy at Capital University Law
School seeks to ease and facilitate the adoption process through education,
research, and advocacy efforts. It works to effect systemic change in the
adoption process that will, over time, impact thousands of children across this
country.
State-by-State directory attorney referral programs
You Are About to Leave This Site
You are about to leave this website
to link to another location that is not maintained by achildsbestinterest.org.
A Child's Best Interest takes no responsibility
for and exercises no control over the views that may be represented, or the
accuracy, privacy policies, copyright or trademark compliance, or the legality
of any material contained on external sites.
Continue to other site
State Laws on Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect
Includes mandatory reporting, immunity for reporters, and other issues.
State Laws on Maintaining Child Abuse & Neglect Records
Includes central registries, disclosure of records, and other issues.
State Laws on Making Permanency Plans for Children in Care
Includes reasonable efforts to reunify families rights and other issues.
State Laws on Adoption
Includes who can adopt and be adopted, consent to adoption, rights of presumed
fathers, termination of parental rights, access to family information, and more.
State Statutes Search
Search State statutes for issues related to child abuse and neglect, child
welfare, and adoption.
Federal Laws
Includes publications and resources on Federal laws that provide the overarching
standards and guidelines for State laws related to child abuse and neglect,
child welfare, and adoption.
Florida Lawmakers
Struggle Over Placement Issues; Florida suggests change to help children
here
Hawaii Foster Parent Organization
click here
National Foster Parent's Association
click here
Raising your
grandchildren? Please visit
GrandsPlace
See the U.S. Supreme Court ruling
denying the Washington
Grandparents visitation rights - Troxel V Granville by clicking Here
© 2008 A Child's
Best Interest - All Rights Reserved
Last Updated January 10, 2008
Send comments or
questions about the
website to:
webmaster@achildsbestinterest.org