Aug. 8, 2017
Why Do Custody Battles Evoke Killer Instincts in Parents?

If you've ever been in a custody battle, you've likely been stunned and disturbed by the primal feelings it brought up inside of you-the rage towards the other parent trying to steal your child. And if you've never been in a custody battle, you've surely seen the headlines about parents kidnapping-or even killing-their child to prevent the other parent from getting custody. Just recently, a South Pasadena dad pled guilty to having murdered his son after taking him to Disneyland. He was in the midst of a custody battle and chose murder rather than let the boy's mom win custody. Today's family courts are often sites of tears, chaos, hasty rulings and mistakes that ruin kids' lives. Today's guest, Alexandra Lavinsky, is a family law attorney in West Los Angeles, who has seen it all. She opens her fascinating case files to share the good, the bad and the ugly. Decisions in family court are supposed to be made according to what is in the best interest of the child, but inequities abound.