Abstract Longtime stepfamilies and later‐life re‐couplers with adult children from previous relationships are a growing demographic. Legal default assumptions are designed for younger first‐time families, not for aging families or stepfamilies. However, for stepcouples who plan, and who document their wishes, the legal landscape allows for later‐life stepcouples to exercise choice and create individualized alternatives. This article addresses normal challenges created by stepfamily structure that impact later‐life “blended families” in three areas: health and end‐of‐life decision making, later‐life financial management, and inheritance plans that consider both the current partner and children of previous relationships. Throughout, this article addresses the importance of using a stepfamily lens, not a first‐time family lens.

Abstract Demographic trends manifest in family law cases, and this article examines the demographic factor of age. Beyond metaphors of a “graying society,” population aging affects family structures, caregiving responsibilities, and legal disputes. Through a U.S. perspective with comparative insights, this article highlights how aging intersects with custody, divorce, domestic violence, multigenerational interdependencies and responsibilities, and family conflict dynamics. Case studies illustrate why age‐inclusive approaches and multigenerational perspectives on family cases can facilitate dispute resolution. We also extend attention to the aging of family law professionals as we increasingly work in multigenerational spaces with potentially difficult conversations around capacity and retirement.

Abstract Sexual dysfunction in young people is on the rise. This trend has dramatic implications for key state interests, including fertility rates, economic growth, and overall well‐being. The serious consequences associated with poor sexual health in childbearing‐age citizens call for creative solutions. One such solution is Surrogate Partner Therapy (“SPT”), a highly effective form of treatment for people suffering from severe cases of psychogenic sexual dysfunction. SPT establishes a triadic relationship among the patient, a licensed mental health professional, and a trained surrogate partner who may use intimate contact to instill patients with the skills necessary to form healthy connections. However, because its unorthodox methods likely violate state anti‐prostitution laws, SPT is rarely utilized. This article argues that, given SPT's promising potential to address the rise of psychosexual ailments in young people, state governments should create a limited medical exception to their prohibitions on prostitution.

Family treatment courts (FTCs) represent a significant advancement in addressing the dual challenges of parental substance use and child welfare system involvement. This study assessed the effectiveness of an FTC program in improving child welfare outcomes, with a focus on the likelihood and timeliness of family reunification, as well as the impact on foster care utilization. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, this study examined 186 program participants and a propensity score-matched group of 274 foster children who did not receive FTC services. Results demonstrated that FTC program participation markedly enhanced the probability of family reunification and timeliness of reunification, with program participants significantly more likely to reunify with their families in a shorter period than their non-participating counterparts. These findings highlight the FTC's effectiveness in facilitating reunification and supporting families with parental substance use.

Abstract The United States imprisons juvenile delinquents at a rate higher than any other country in the world. This is likely due to the lack of a federal standard for a minimum age to try children as adults. While states scramble to find the appropriate response, youth offenders are left as collateral in a vicious loop of recidivism. This Note explores the lack of a national standard in establishing criminal responsibility for trying children and proposes a hybrid solution of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Raise the Age legislation to promote rehabilitation and re‐entry pathways for youth offenders.

Abstract This study presents the results of research conducted among Lithuanian, Polish, and Ukrainian mediators on the issue of involving children in mediation in matters which concern them in order to hear their voice. The aim of the study was to establish the actual state of art, and therefore the scope, frequency and methods of involving children in mediation, as well as the expectations and preferences of mediators in this regard. The views of mediators regarding their role in mediation involving children were also sought. The results of the study prove that mediators agree on the need to hear a voice of children in family mediation. They also outline the practice of involving children in mediation, which is predominantly based on indirect methods. This study shows the great similarity between the studied groups, their characteristics, their perceptions of mediation and the role of a mediator and their opinions on how to secure the hearing of the child's opinion in mediation. This may prove the universal nature of the subject matter concerning conflict resolution, mediation and the protection of children's rights.

Abstract Wrongful convictions and imprisonment are a natural consequence of our criminal justice system. New York is one of 35 states with wrongful conviction compensation statutes, offering some form of relief to individuals and their families. However, the incidence rate of suicide among these families calls for a solution when that wrongly convicted individual takes their life. This note advocates for an expanded form of relief under the New York State Court of Claims Act Section 8‐b, creating a cause of action for surviving spouses to receive compensation in the wake of their partner's death.

Abstract During their careers, many Australian early childhood educators will teach children from military and veteran families; one in 20 households includes someone with military experience. Children from these families are impacted by the stressors of military family life, including frequent relocations, parental absences, and potential parental injuries. This mixed‐methods study explored the perceptions of 27 educators about supporting young children (aged 2–5 years) from military families, their understanding of children's responses to unique stressors, and their confidence in providing support. Educators generally evaluated the social and emotional wellbeing of these children positively. However, approximately 25% reported some children struggled with adaptation to change, and 25.9% were only partially confident in understanding children's responses to military‐specific stressors. Most educators (77.8%) received no relevant training, and 59.2% lacked access to quality, research‐based Australian resources. Qualitative data provided further insights into children's responses to military family stressors. Findings highlight the need for targeted professional development and accessible resources for educators supporting children from military families. Despite positive overall assessments, significant gaps exist in educator training and confidence. Quality resources would enhance educators' capacity to support the unique needs of these children, especially in rural communities with limited services.

Abstract This article examines the legal and ethical status of agreements to waive paternity in cases of unintended pregnancies and contrasts them with legal regimes governing anonymous and known sperm donations. Although these scenarios often result in the same functional outcome—severance of the biological father's legal relationship with the child—they are treated inconsistently by legal systems. The article critiques prevailing approaches grounded in contract, the best interests of the child (BIRC), and the right to parenthood, and demonstrates their analytical and policy limitations. As an alternative, the article proposes a novel framework based on a social‐institutional conception of parenthood. This framework emphasizes the ethics of parenting and the need to distinguish legally between “parents” and “donors” as separate institutional roles. It supports prohibiting paternity waivers while justifying sperm donation—under carefully regulated conditions—as a legitimate social institution. The article offers policy guidelines for regulating sperm donations, particularly those involving known donors, and calls for coherent legal categories aligned with ethical and institutional principles of parenting.

Abstract Postpartum depression can negatively impact a woman's life well past the initial postpartum period. The struggle often lies in the difficulty to diagnose, and then adequately treat the condition. Further, with such limited unpaid maternity leave offered federally through the Family Medical Leave Act, women often struggle to have enough time and financial resources to access necessary treatment. This Note proposes alternative options for supporting women who suffer from postpartum depression in offering extended and fully paid maternity leave for private and public employees that is funded by contributions split between the employer and employee.