While the majority of matters I handle in Juvenile Court do not get so contentious they end up in three different courts. There are still a substantial number that do. Most cases are handled almost exclusively in Juvenile Court, though there may be multiple matters in front of different magistrates. For example, child support and custody are often heard by different magistrates, as will dependency and neglect and truancy matters. Theoretically, the same family could be dealing with all four of those types of cases simultaneously and have four different magistrates.

BUT SOMETIMES – allegations are made that seem “hinky” and can result in criminal charges, restraining orders or orders of protection. A parent will do this to sidestep the Juvenile Court magistrate hearing your case and gain an advantage in the custody or child support matter. That, my friend, is called “Abuse of Process” or “Abusive Civil Process” involving defamatory statements. So, if you think the other side is capable of lying, abusing the system, or making false and damaging allegations with little or no real evidence, you need to be prepared for it.

All hope is not lost. There are things that we can do to mitigate the damage the other parent or relative is trying to do. Often, those false allegations can be turned back around on them where they “backfire” and “bites them on the butt.” 

Midsouth Law & Mediation Group, PLLC
dba Midsouth Family Law