Law Commons^™

Biology Is Important, But Does Not Necessarily Always Constitute A "Family": A Brief Survey Of The Uniform Adoption Act, Carrie L. Wambaugh

Akron Law Review

The Uniform Adoption Act [hereinafter "UAA"] recognizes that adoptive families are the "legal equivalent" to biological families. While recognizing biology is very important, the UAA contends that this biological fact alone will not be enough to trump the rights of adoptive parents and the child by ensuring stability and finality in adoptions. The child is the one with the most at stake and deserves protection from "transfer trauma" in contested adoptions. This Comment addresses the problems that adoptive families have confronted and explores certain provisions of the Uniform Adoption Act.

A Chance To Save Lives: A Guide For How And Why The Us Should Mandate Vaccines For Children And Limit State Exemption Laws, Lauren Zidones

Akron Law Review

Vaccines have helped increase the life expectancy for humans in the 20th century and have reduced the number of deaths associated with infectious diseases. Despite efforts by the CDC, state and local governments, and other public health agencies, infectious diseases are still a major cause of illness, disability, and death. Steps must be taken to address the continued rise of vaccine-preventable diseases in America. Eliminating or limiting state exemptions for mandatory vaccinations for school-aged children is the simplest way to address this growing issue. However, a population of parents argue for absolute parental rights and stand against any vaccine exemption …

Power In The Age Of In/Equality: Economic Abuse, Masculinities, And The Long Road To Marriage Equality, Arianne Renan Barzilay

Akron Law Review

In an era when women have achieved formal legal equality, patriarchal power endures. In this article I take on a largely neglected subject: economic abuse. While this phenomenon has recently begun to generate awareness as a form of intimate partner violence, it currently lacks a theory and history with which to deeply understand it. A failure to recognize the profound roots enabling economic abuse contributes to its perpetuation, trivialization, and marginalization in legal thought. Such a failure has broad implications for gender equality. This Article offers both a history and a theory with which to understand the phenomenon’s deep roots. …

Fighting Collateral Sanctions One Statute At A Time: Addressing The Inadequacy Of Child Endangerment Statutes And How They Affect The Employment Aspirations Of Criminal Offenders, Sarah Wetzel

Akron Law Review

In an age where one in four adult Americans has a criminal record, post-conviction relief measures and review of criminal statutes is on the rise. This Comment addresses the inadequacy of current child endangerment statutes around the country by providing examples of those which are too broad and result in convictions of well-meaning parents and those which are too narrow and allow other parents to harm their children without repercussion. It then places these statutes in the context of collateral sanctions that are imposed on individuals with child endangerment convictions, particularly those related to employment and professional licensing.

Result Inequality In Family Law, Margaret F. Brinig

Akron Law Review

To the extent that family law is governed by statute, all families are treated as though they are the same. This is of course consistent with the equal protection guarantees of the U.S. Constitution as well as those of the states. However, in our pluralistic society, all families are not alike. At birth, some children are born to wealthy, married parents who will always put the children’s interests first and will never engage in domestic violence. Many laws benefit these children, while, according to some academics, they either further disadvantage other children or at best ignore their needs.

This Article …

Alimony's Job Lock, Margaret Ryznar

Akron Law Review

In family law, courts often prevent people who owe alimony from changing jobs. If a job change is accompanied by a salary decrease, the court will not necessarily readjust the alimony obligation and instead impute the higher income to the obligor. This Article introduces the term “job lock” to describe this situation, borrowing the term from the health care context, wherein job immobility due to health insurance concerns has received significant scrutiny. This Article draws similar attention to the alimony context, proposing a balancing test to assist courts interested in alleviating job lock under certain circumstances.

Abolish Fault-Oriented Divorce In Ohio - As A Service To Society And To Restore Dignity To The Domestic Relations Court, John D. Cannell

Akron Law Review

A PROMINENT COMMON PLEAS JUDGE, who for 10 years has been presiding in the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas of one of Ohio's more populated counties, was recently heard to say: "Ohio's divorce law is hypocritical, lousy and archaic." About Ohio's divorce laws it has also been said: "Perhaps there is no statute in Ohio more abused than the statute concerning 'divorce and alimony.' Perhaps there is no statute under which greater imposition is practiced upon the court and more injustice done to individuals." These were the words of Judge Hitchcock of the Ohio Supreme Court' …

Abolish Fault-Oriented Divorce In Ohio - As A Service To Society And To Restore Dignity To The Domestic Relations Court, John D. Cannell

Akron Law Review

A PROMINENT COMMON PLEAS JUDGE, who for 10 years has been presiding in the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas of one of Ohio's more populated counties, was recently heard to say: "Ohio's divorce law is hypocritical, lousy and archaic." About Ohio's divorce laws it has also been said: "Perhaps there is no statute in Ohio more abused than the statute concerning 'divorce and alimony.' Perhaps there is no statute under which greater imposition is practiced upon the court and more injustice done to individuals." These were the words of Judge Hitchcock of the Ohio Supreme Court …

Child Custody Contests - Rights Of The Father; Mcdanial V. Mcdanial, Howard Walton

Akron Law Review

In an Ohio divorce action when there is a contest for the custody of a minor child, the proper standard to be employed by the court is: what arrangement will be in the best interest of the child?' In an action for modification of a custody award the same standard is applicable. A statute provides that one parent is not preferred over the other; however, all other considerations being equal, custody will normally be given to the mother, provided that she is fit.

An Examination Of The Condonation Doctrine, Marvin M. Moore

Akron Law Review

Under American and English Law a spouse who has once condoned a marital transgression by his mate is thereafter barred from using that transgression as grounds for divorce. All of the common grounds for divorce, including adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness, and desertion, are subject to the condonation principle. The doctrine had its origin in the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, where it was applied by the ecclesiastical courts in adjudicating petitions for divorce (amensa et thoro) grounded on cruelty or adultery. The principle survived the changes caused by the Reformation to subsist as part of English ecclesiastical law, …

An Examination Of Connivance, A Defense To Divorce, John W. Wheeler

Akron Law Review

"Connivance" has been defined as consent of the complainant, express or implied, to the misconduct now alleged as a ground for divorce." The element of corrupt consent is considered to be an essential ingredient. Once established, connivance represents a bar to a divorce. The courts have reasoned that a spouse whose conduct facilitated to the other's adultery has no more right to complain of his mate's sexual unfaithfulness than does a husband whose wife has been raped. The underlying principle is expressed by the latin aphorism, "Volenti non fit injuria," which means, "He who consents cannot receive an injury."

Mere …

The "Compulsory School Attendance" Case: Wisconsin V. Yoder, Michael Buchicchio

Akron Law Review

It is an important constitutional doctrine that a law generally constitutional "on its face," may be unconstitutional "as applied" in specific instances. The Amish case marks the first occasion that the Court has clearly articulated that exception in favor of a minority religious group. It would appear that compulsory education laws are-"on their face"--within a state's constitutional powers, but under the facts of this case, the First Amendment requires that the Amish be exempt.

Dissolution Of Marriage - "Fresh Air In Family Court", John R. Milligan

Akron Law Review

The state has a vital interest in marriage and divorce as a matter of public policy. Divorce is not simply a private controversy between husband and wife. The family relationship is the basis of our society, and its preservation is a matter of state concern. Publication or circulation of any article "with the intent to procure or aid in procuring divorces, either in this state or elsewhere" is made a crime punishable by a fine of $25 to $500 and/or six months' imprisonment.

The Effect Of The Change In The Age Of Majority On Prior Divorce Decrees Providing For Child Support, Stephen F. Ahern

Akron Law Review

The purpose of this article is to consider the effect of the statutory change in the age of majority on the construction and enforcement of support orders entered prior to the effective date of the new statutory age. The goal is to provide the domestic relations practitioner with a shorthand guide as to how these issues have been decided in Ohio and in other states and, finally, to provide an analysis of these decisions.

Marriage Rights; Homosexuals And Transsexuals; B. V. B.,, William D. Lentz

Akron Law Review

WHAT IS A MARRIAGE? Although there are several definitions, they all contain one common element: the union of one man and one woman. However, if a particular state had no statute which specifically required that marriage be between a man and a woman would the courts uphold a marriage between members of the same sex? The New York Supreme Court, in B. v. B., answered that question in the negative. In that case the wife brought an action for annulment on the ground that her husband was a female, and the husband attempted to amend his answer and counterclaim for …

Divorce - Pendente Lite Awards - Counsel Fees - Costs - Alimony - Effect Of Equal Rights Amendment; Wiegand V. Wiegand, Joseph M. Donley

Akron Law Review

THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPERIOR COURT, in Wiegand v. Wiegand,struck out at one of the true bastions of sex discrimination incorporated into the Anglo-American legal system. The legislated discrimination of the Pennsylvania Divorce Law was the object of the court's scrutiny. Appellee Sara Wiegand had filed a complaint in divorce a mensa et thora, a petition for alimony, and an initial petition for alimony pendente lite, counsel fees, and expenses. On August 14, 1967, the Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, ordered appellant Myron Wiegand to pay $875 per month alimony pendente lite and $250 preliminary counsel fees. Subsequently, appellee filed additional …

Divorce And Alimony; Separation Agreements; Jurisdiction Of Court To Modify; Impairment Of Contract; Statutory Provisions; Wolfe V. Wolfe, John J. Lavin

Akron Law Review

WITH THE decision of Wolfe v. Wolfe 1 the Ohio Supreme Court joins the majority of American jurisdictions' which hold that where a court has the general power to modify a decree for alimony or support the exercise of that power is not affected by the fact that the decree is based on an agreement entered into by the parties to the action

Divorce And Alimony; Separation Agreements; Jurisdiction Of Court To Modify; Impairment Of Contract; Statutory Provisions; Wolfe V. Wolfe, John J. Lavin

Akron Law Review

WITH THE decision of Wolfe v. Wolfe the Ohio Supreme Court joins the majority of American jurisdictions' which hold that where a court has the general power to modify a decree for alimony or support the exercise of that power is not affected by the fact that the decree is based on an agreement entered into by the parties to the action.

The Plight Of The Interstate Child In American Courts, Leona Mary Hudak

Akron Law Review

FOR EVERY THREE MARRIAGES solemnized in the United States each year, one divorce is granted. In some states the statistics approach one for every two. Yet, it is not these almost overwhelming statistics which are the most pernicious aspects of the broken American marriage, but rather the tragic aftermath revolving about custody-visitation when children are involved. Therein lies an opprobrious indictment of the American juridical-legal-legislative system.' For with the official rescission of the nuptial contract begin the devious, sometimes vengeful and often heart-rending machinations and maneuvers of "noncustodian v. custodian" hearing and rehearing,' on the courtroom stages of 52 jurisdictions-all …

Child Custody Jurisdiction In Ohio - Implementing The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, Evelyn Leonard Kosicki

Akron Law Review

Reflecting upon the drafters' purposes, this comment will discuss the judicial and legislative ambiguity in Ohio which necessitated legislative change. It will also compare Ohio's child custody litigation prior to the enactment of the U.C.C.J.A. with the results that are likely to be obtained in today's child custody litigation. In addition, it will examine the statutory procedures which now govern child custody litigation and areas of concern which remain to be challenged.

Equal Protection; State Alimony Statutes; Sex Discrimination; Orr V. Orr, David A. Detec, Jane L. Thomas-Moore

Akron Law Review

In Orr v. Orr the United States Supreme Court held unconstitutional the Alabama alimony statutes which provided that husbands, but not wives, may be required to pay alimony upon divorce. The Court's principal reason for so holding was the statutes' violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the fourteenth amendment on the basis of sex discrimination.

Domestic Relations: Legal Responses To Wife Beating: Theory And Practice In Ohio, Nancy Grim

Akron Law Review

Legislation, like Ohio's Domestic Violence Act, has been heralded by battered women's advocates. Much discussion about the limitations of traditional remedies and institutional obstacles preceded the passage of such statutes; but it takes more than words in a statute to effect change. Statutory language can be interpreted in various ways and must withstand constitutional scrutiny. Every aspect of institutional involvement can promote or hinder the purposes of the Act. This comment examines Ohio's Domestic Violence Act in light of actual practice and interpretations. It is hoped that an analysis of the legal operation of the Act as well as extra-legal …

Reunification Planning For Children In Custody Of Ohio's Children Services Boards: What Does The Law Require?, Norma Blank

Akron Law Review

Ohio law mandates that each of its eighty-eight counties has a county department of welfare or a county children services board with powers and duties to provide appropriate care, protection or services to children whose situations warrant such intervention. This mandate is a reflection of society's recognition that where there is parental incapacity to provide a safe and healthful home environment for the children, the state has an obligation to intervene in the children's behalf. For some families this ultimately results in the termination of parental rights and the permanent placement of the children outside the parental home.

Divorce Mediation: A New Solution To Old Problems, Victoria E. Solomon

Akron Law Review

The American Bar has traditionally operated as if the practice of law was a profession unto itself, totally unrelated to other disciplines. Fortunately, there is today a growing recognition that the law can be neither developed nor applied in a vacuum. In order to best serve the needs of one's clients and of the legal system as a whole it is necessary to draw upon knowledge evolved in other fields such as economics, history, sociology and psychology. Divorce, for example, is a phenomenon with not only legal but also broad sociological and psychological implications which must be considered in any …

Family Law Symposium Introduction, Marvin M. Moore

Akron Law Review

Each of the following three articles provides a comprehensive examination of a serious problem besetting the family unit, and each considers the merits of a recently-enacted or proposed reform designed to respond to the particular problem. The timeliness of the articles is disclosed by the fact that the reforms being evaluated have all attained enactment or serious consideration subsequent to 1980.

A Survey Of State Law Authorizing Stepparent Adoptions Without The Noncustodial Parent's Consent, Larry K. Laskiewicz

Akron Law Review

The increase of divorce and remarriage in American society has radically changed the concept of family. A typical family may no longer be composed of two parents and their biological off-springs living in the same household. The trend is toward a stepfamily composed of a parent, a biological child, a spouse, and the spouse's child. This paper essentially concerns the ability of a stepparent (in most cases, a stepfather), married to a custodial natural parent, to adopt a minor child from a previous marriage without the consent of the noncustodial natural parent.

Should A Professional Degree Be Considered A Marital Asset Upon Divorce?, Marvin M. Moore

Akron Law Review

Although all four responses have their advocates, it appears that treating the degree as marital property is the most popular response among legal writers and the alimony response is the one most frequently utilized by the courts. It is the position of this writer that the fairest and most practical solution is the restitutional response: to treat the husband's professional degree as a form of marital property and to award the wife restitution for her contributions to its acquisition.

Interspousal Immunity In Ohio After Prem V. Cox, Jean M. Floasin

Akron Law Review

AT FIRST BLUSH, the January 5, 1983 Ohio Supreme Court decision in Prem v. Cox, may lead opponents of the interspousal immunity doctrine to believe that the doctrine has been abrogated in Ohio. But such an analysis might be too optimistic. Prem involved a wrongful death action brought by the deceased wife's estate against her husband and the driver of a second vehicle. The decedent's husband was driving the automobile in which the decedent was a passenger when it collided with another vehicle. The husband's motion for summary judgment based on the doctrine of interspousal immunity was granted by …

Parents, Judges, And A Minor's Abortion Decision: Third Party Participation And The Evolution Of A Judicial Alternative, William Green

Akron Law Review

This article will examine the Supreme Court's modification of Roe v. Wade to permit third party participation in a minor's abortion decision-making: how it originated, what direction it has taken and at whose initiative, and what issues remain. This article will argue that the Court's difficulty in resolving this issue resulted from the justices' disagreement over what recognition, if any, should be given to the minor-related interests that states have asserted to support third party involvement. This article will also argue that the Court's eventual ability to reach agreement was due primarily to the policy leadership of Justice Powell. Part …

Parents' Support Obligations To Their Adult Children, Marvin M. Moore

Akron Law Review

The average parent is likely to assume that his legal obligations to his children terminate upon the child's attainment of majority. This was, in fact, the common law rule, and it is true in a few states today. However, most jurisdictions, through statute or court decision, have made parents responsible for the maintenance of their physically or mentally incapacitated adult children, and a number of states have authorized courts to order divorced parents to help defray their post-majority childrens' high school and/or college expenses. The purpose of this article is to examine and evaluate the states' support laws insofar as …