Family and Matrimonial

New York courts have increasingly confronted disputes over IVF embryos as the procedure's popularity has surged, particularly among older parents. How do courts balance competing interests when couples disagree over embryo disposition, and what legal protections exist to prevent such conflicts from reaching the courtroom?

When a family member loses the ability to make important decisions, informal assistance may not provide the legal authority needed to act on their behalf. New Jersey guardianship proceedings offer a court-supervised process for appointing someone to manage personal care or financial affairs for incapacitated adults, including elderly individuals with dementia and young adults with developmental disabilities who have reached age 18.

Illinois is changing how courts handle pet custody disputes between unmarried couples. Starting in 2027, judges will have the authority to look beyond ownership paperwork and consider who actually cared for the animal, the pet's emotional bonds, and what arrangement serves the animal's well-being when relationships end.