What to Say (Keep It Simple and Direct)

You do not need legal language. You need clear, direct statements.

When contacting officials:

• Identify yourself as a constituent

• State the issue clearly

• Point to specific structural failures

• Request specific reforms

Short Example:

“I am contacting you as a constituent regarding systemic failures in the family court system that are directly impacting children. The current structure lacks accountability, relies on insufficiently qualified child evaluation, and does not provide accessible mechanisms to challenge harmful decisions.

Decisions about children are often made without meaningful direct interaction with the child, and recommendations carrying significant weight may come from individuals without clinical training or ongoing involvement. At the same time, there is no realistic, safe pathway for parents to raise concerns when decisions are incorrect or harmful, and emergency matters are not consistently handled with the urgency required.

I am asking for structural reforms to improve accountability and child-centered decision-making, including qualified child representation, independent review mechanisms, timely emergency response requirements, and expanded access to judicial reassignment when concerns arise.

I would appreciate your response regarding what actions can be taken to address these issues.”

Longer Example:

“I am contacting you as a constituent regarding systemic failures in the family court system that are directly impacting children. The current structure lacks accountability, relies on insufficiently qualified child evaluation, and does not provide accessible mechanisms to challenge harmful decisions.

In practice, life-altering decisions about children are often made by individuals who have little to no direct interaction with the child. Recommendations that carry significant weight are frequently provided by legal professionals without clinical training in child development or mental health, and without an ongoing relationship with the child. This creates a gap between what is presented in court and the child’s actual needs.

Additionally, there is no realistic, safe pathway for parents to raise concerns when decisions are incorrect or harmful. Appeals are financially and procedurally out of reach for many families, and existing complaint processes often route back through the same system or decision-makers being challenged. This creates a chilling effect, where parents are discouraged from speaking up due to fear of retaliation.

Emergency matters are not consistently treated with the urgency they require. When a child’s well-being is at risk, delays in response or lack of interim decision-making options can result in preventable harm.

I am asking that you take action to address these structural issues. Specifically, I am requesting consideration of the following reforms:

• Require that child representatives, such as guardians ad litem, be licensed mental health or child development professionals who maintain ongoing interaction with the child

• Establish an independent, confidential review process for custody-related decisions that does not rely on the original judge or court

• Mandate timely responses to emergency motions, with a mechanism for alternate judicial review when necessary

• Expand access to change-of-judge requests beyond early procedural deadlines, particularly when concerns arise later in a case

Children deserve a system that is accurate, accountable, and truly centered on their well-being, not one that prioritizes procedural completion over outcome.

I would appreciate your response regarding what actions can be taken to address these concerns and whether you are willing to support or introduce legislation that improves accountability and child-focused decision-making within the family court system.

Thank you for your time and attention to this issue.”