| Delinquency Proceedings |
| The Prosecuting Attorney may file a Delinquency Petition if a child under 18 years of age commits a delinquent act. A juvenile delinquency proceeding is essentially a closed bench trial. A juvenile has constitutional rights under the due process clause when there is a possibility of detention following the proceeding. These rights include adequate notice, the assistance of counsel, the privilege against self-incrimination, and the privilege of confronting and cross-examining the witnesses. The due process clause also requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt when a juvenile is charged with an act that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult. Juveniles do not have a constitutional right to a jury trial in juvenile court. More... |
| Requirements for a Valid Premarital Agreement |
| There are several requirements for a valid premarital agreement. In deciding whether to uphold a premarital agreement, a court will consider a number of factors. More... |
| Parental Duties and Rights |
| Parental Duties * Support. A parent is legally required to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical care for his or her child. A parent's duty to support a child ends when the child is no longer a minor (at age 18 in most states), the child gets married, the child leaves the parent's home and becomes self-sufficient, or the parent's parental rights are legally terminated. More... |
| Overview of Malpractice Actions Against Child Welfare Agencies or Caseworkers |
| There are major problems with respect to the way in which child welfare agencies and caseworkers operate in the child welfare system. The agency or caseworker may neglect the child, not provide adequate avenues for the child, or may even in extreme cases lose the child in the welfare system. There has been a large increase of malpractice actions filed by children and their parents against both agencies and caseworkers. More... |
| Types of School Discipline |
| There are numerous types of school discipline that may be imposed if a student engages in improper conduct. More... |
S.E. Ballard, Esquire
