The Pandemic’s Toll on Family Courts: A Backlog of Broken Families
As the world grappled with the unprecedented challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most overlooked casualties was the breakdown of our nation’s family court system. Forced to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, family courts around the country were ill-prepared to handle the deluge of divorce cases and custody disputes that flooded their dockets, leaving countless families in limbo and children caught in the crossfire.
With quarantine guidelines keeping couples confined to their homes for weeks on end, tensions ran high and relationships strained to the breaking point. For many, divorce became an inevitable outcome, but the closure of courts and the transition to remote proceedings made resolution nearly impossible. Remote court appearances, once a novelty, became the norm out of sheer necessity, as not appearing in court was simply not an option for couples seeking to untangle their lives.
But even as courts attempted to adapt to the new normal, enforcement petitions and motions languished in bureaucratic purgatory, with delays and backlogs plaguing the system at every turn. When proceedings finally resumed, the backlog was so immense that conferences and hearings were rushed and incomplete, leaving crucial issues unaddressed and families in a state of perpetual uncertainty.
I can personally attest to the frustration and heartache caused by this broken system. Countless times, I appeared virtually in court, hoping for resolution to the parental alienation plaguing my family, only to be met with delays and empty promises of future hearings. Month after month passed without court orders enforcing my rights to communicate with my children, allowing the emotional abuse to persist unchecked.
Four years after the onset of the pandemic, my family finally reached the point of a forensic investigation—a critical step that should have been taken much sooner, had the courts not been overwhelmed by the backlog of cases. Four years of emotional turmoil, four years of missed milestones and precious moments lost, all because our family court system failed to keep pace with the demands of the moment.
It is a travesty that our courts allowed this backlog to persist for so long, sacrificing the well-being of countless families on the altar of bureaucratic inefficiency. The toll of the pandemic on our family court system cannot be overstated, and the scars it has left on families will be felt for years to come.
As we emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, it is imperative that we learn from this experience and take steps to ensure that our family court system is better equipped to handle crises of this magnitude in the future. Our children deserve better, our families deserve better, and it is incumbent upon us to demand accountability and reform from those responsible for administering justice in our courts.
I’m Randy Morano—a father, author, and staunch advocate for parental alienation awareness. My journey through the depths of parental alienation has transformed me into a passionate advocate, dedicated to shedding light on this overlooked form of emotional abuse.
As a survivor, I understand the profound impact of parental alienation firsthand. Through my writing and advocacy efforts, I aim to raise awareness, empower others, and provide support to families in need. Join me in the fight for change and hope.
