July 21 President's Message Hon. Tom Altobelli AFCC President's Message Bernard of Chartes was a 12th century French philosopher and teacher. He is credited with the metaphor that modern thinkers are but ‘dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants’. Isaac Newton adapted this metaphor in the 17th century when he wrote in a letter: ‘if I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ This metaphor applies not just to modern thinkers, but to modern leaders. As your new President, at this very humbling highlight in my life as a family law professional, I too feel that I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I stand on the shoulders of the past presidents of this great organisation, foremost of whom is my colleague and friend, AFCC now past President, Hon. Dolores Bomrad. Her quiet wisdom, total selflessness, enormous insight and humility has steered AFCC into another successful year.
June 24 Ask the Experts Lisa Aronson Fontes, PhD Suing for Damages from Domestic Violence: Torts in Civil Courts A civil suit against a domestic abuser can provide survivors with a sense of justice and a financial cushion. There is always more to a separation or divorce case than the single overt incident that may have been “the last straw” provoking a couple to separate. People who manage to escape an abusive relationship want safety first, for themselves and their children. Next, many long for justice.
May 19 Ask the Experts Premela G. Deck, JD, PhD, LICSW Introducing Parent-Child Contact Cases: A Guide to Aligning Professionals Using a Systems Perspective If you have ever worked on a case involving a child who refuses to see a parent, you already know how quickly things can unravel — not just within the family, but among the professionals trying to help them. Picture this: an attorney for the favored parent is convinced the other parent is dangerous and files emergency motions accordingly. A therapist working with the rejected parent shares, candidly, that they believe the child is being "brainwashed." The child's therapist, having only ever met with one parent, produces notes that read more like an advocacy document than a clinical record. Meanwhile, the family therapist — who was appointed to work with the whole system — is fielding calls from lawyers who want to know when she'll be "recommending" the child resume overnight visits. No one is collaborating. No one is certain what anyone else's role actually is. And the family, watching all of this unfold, is more entrenched than ever. Sound familiar?
April 22 Ask the Experts Ruth Ouzts Moore, PhD Breaking the Cycle: Mental Health and Resilience in High-Conflict Divorce Divorce is often a highly stressful life event that can significantly disrupt the stability of a family. When parents separate, they frequently encounter major changes in financial arrangements, household responsibilities, living conditions, childcare, and visitation schedules. In many cases, one partner may be more emotionally prepared for the actual divorce, having experienced an “emotional divorce” long before the legal process began. As a result, the other partner may feel shocked, betrayed, or blindsided. These intense emotional reactions can contribute to heightened conflict and more complex family dynamics, potentially exacerbating mental health concerns—particularly for individuals with a prior history of psychological difficulties. Thus, it is essential to support clients in finding purpose and meaning during this transition. Beyond simply adapting to a new reality, clients benefit from developing resilience and the capacity to move forward in a healthy, constructive manner. Here are 10 important considerations when working with clients who have mental health concerns and are involved in high-conflict divorce.
April 22 President's Message Hon. Dolores A. Bomrad (Ret.), AFCC President April 2026 President's Message May 30, 2025, feels both like eons ago and like yesterday. That day, at the 62nd Annual AFCC Conference in New Orleans, our remarkable Past President, Professor Michael Saini, handed me the AFCC Presidential Gavel. In truth, that was the first and last time I held it. It has been under repair ever since, which still makes me laugh. I may not have had the gavel in my possession, but I certainly cherished what it represented: the opportunity to learn the inner workings of this extraordinary organization, meet more of our members and colleagues in collaborating organizations, preside over the countless programs and initiatives under way at AFCC, and keep learning every step of the way.