FAMILY LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2024) Erik Gordon In I.J. v. State, 553 P.3d 1263 (Alaska Ct. App. 2024), the court of appeals held that “the least restrictive alternative rule” does not mean that each less restrictive alternative must be attempted when there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the less restrictive measures Continue Reading »
FAMILY LAW Supreme Court of Alaska (2024) Caitlyn Leary In Tara R. v. Department of Family & Community Services, Office of Children’s Services, 541 P.3d 539 (Alaska 2024), the Alaska Supreme Court held that foster parents are not permitted to intervene in a case regarding termination of parental rights except under rare circumstances. (Id. at Continue Reading »
FAMILY LAW Supreme Court of Alaska (2024) Grace Koh In Native Village of Kwinhagak v. Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Children’s Services, 542 P.3d 1099 (Alaska 2024), the supreme court held that while the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) had statutory authority to place a child in need of aid (CINA) in Continue Reading »
FAMILY LAW Supreme Court of Alaska (2024) Madison Detweiler In J.M. v. S.C., 552 P.3d 475 (Alaska 2024), the supreme court held that the deterioration of a child’s emotional and behavioral health since the time of an original custody agreement constituted a substantial change of circumstances allowing for the modification of the original custody agreement. Continue Reading »
FAMILY LAW Supreme Court of Alaska (2024) Abby Murray In Adam F. v. Caitlin B., 551 P.3d 553 (Alaska 2024), the supreme court affirmed the superior court’s decision to temporarily suspend a father’s visitation with his child pending his engagement in a domestic violence intervention program (DVIP). Adam F. v. Caitlin B., 551 P.3d 553, Continue Reading »
FAMILY LAW Supreme Court of Alaska (2024) Jack Jeffrey In Oscar M. v. Marilyn P., 555 P.3d 40 (Alaska 2024), the supreme court held a child cannot intervene in their parent’s custody case when the court has already been provided with enough information about the child’s preferences to render intervention unnecessary. (Id. at 46). Oscar Continue Reading »
Family Law Supreme Court of Alaska (2023) Sarah Edwards In Miranda T. v. State Department of Health & Social Services, 524 P.3d 1105 (Alaska 2023), the court held that, before seeking termination of parental rights, the Office of Children’s Services’ (OCS) efforts to reunite a child with his or her family pursuant to the Indian Continue Reading »
FAMILY LAW Supreme Court of Alaska (2023) Steve Stenquist In Blythe P. v. Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Children’s Services 524 P.3d 238 (Alaska 2023), the supreme court overturned State, Department of Health and Social Services, Office of Children’s Services v. Zander B. 474 P.3d 1153, (Alaska, 2020), holding that whenever an Continue Reading »
FAMILY LAW Supreme Court of Alaska (2023) Kubi Johnson In Tuluksak Native Cmty. v. Dep’t of Health & Soc. Servs., 530 P.3d 359 (Alaska 2023), the supreme court held the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) may place an Alaskan Native child at a psychiatric treatment facility under AS 47.10.087 if the child is suffering from Continue Reading »
FAMILY LAW Supreme Court of Alaska (2023) Shaun Thompson In Hudson v. Hudson, 532 P.3d 272 (Alaska 2023), the supreme court held that a person concealing plans to separate from their spouse is not economic misconduct, so long as (1) marital property was not used for the [separating] spouse’s own benefit; (2) while the marriage Continue Reading »
