Although thankfully not a daily occurrence, this case sadly highlights one of the risks of embarking upon court based resolution. Neither party had legal representation which also left the case management to the court and these "litigant in person" parents to navigate the many procedural rules unaided.
What alternatives could these parents have considered? Thankfully there are quite a few; mediation (both the traditional and hybrid models) collaborative law, early neutral evaluations and arbitration to name a few.
Obtaining legal advice at the outset would have ensured these alternatives were flagged and could have saved this family considerable heartache.
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