When Custody Litigation Becomes a Battlefield

In an article published on July 10 in the Daily Business Review, Family Law Attorney Rebecca L. Palmer discusses how high-conflict custody disputes can overwhelm families and why court-appointed safeguards are often necessary to keep the focus on the child’s best interests. Her guidance is especially timely in light of recent news involving an alleged murder plot tied to a custody dispute, a stark reminder of how quickly family conflict can escalate when hostility, disputed facts, and emotional accusations overtake child-centered decision-making.

“One of the most effective tools available to courts, especially during a divorce, is the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem (GAL),” Palmer explains. “The GAL’s role is to conduct an independent investigation and provide the court with information focused exclusively on the child’s best interests.”

Palmer explains that GALs, custody evaluators, and other neutral professionals can help courts move beyond competing parental narratives by gathering independent information, evaluating family dynamics, and recommending practical structures that support stability. She also shares useful tools to consider, including parenting schedules, clear communication protocols, parenting apps, and co-parenting education to reduce conflict and help children maintain a safer, more predictable routine.

“In moments of extreme conflict during a divorce and custody battle, the legal system relies on safeguards intended to cut through the conflict and refocus the case on the child’s best interests,” writes Palmer. “After all, custody cases are not supposed to determine which parent wins the war; they are supposed to protect the person who never volunteered to join it.”

Read the story in full; click here (subscriber-based)