Posts by Luke Williams
‘Yellowstone’ Actress Returns to Alabama Roots, Auctions Maui Estate
“Yellowstone” actress Barret Swatek is trading island paradise for Alabama pastures as she prepares to return to her Southern roots. The Alabama native and her husband, retired hedge-fund manager Adam Weiss, have placed their sprawling Maui estate on the auction block as they plan their return to Alabama. The couple’s decision highlights a trend seen…
Read MoreAlabama Family Trust Announces Leadership Changes
In a significant transition for one of Alabama’s most important elder law and disability planning resources, Alabama Family Trust (AFT) has announced key changes to its leadership structure following the passing of its former board president. Leadership Transition at Alabama Family Trust Clayton Davis, who served as President of the AFT Board of Directors since…
Read MoreAlabama’s Proposed “Best Interest of the Child Protection Act” Could Transform Custody Arrangements
New legislation introduced in the Alabama Legislature aims to fundamentally reshape how courts determine child custody arrangements, potentially affecting thousands of Alabama families navigating the divorce process each year. Proposed Changes to Alabama Custody Law House Bill 229, titled “The Best Interest of the Child Protection Act 2025,” was introduced on February 15, 2025, by…
Read MoreAlabama Mom Changes Jury Duty Law for Breastfeeding Parents
When Kandace Brown received a jury summons, she faced an impossible choice. Brown’s daughter Parker would only feed directly from her mother—a common situation for many breastfeeding infants. Despite explaining her circumstances and submitting the proper exemption forms, county officials denied her request for accommodation. “The only way she will eat is by me,” Brown…
Read MoreSupreme Court Declines to Hear Alabama IVF Case
The case began in 2021, when Felicia Burdick-Aysenne and Scott Aysenne filed a lawsuit against the Mobile-based Center for Reproductive Medicine. The couple alleged wrongful death and negligence after a patient at the hospital housing the clinic gained unauthorized access to the cryogenic embryo storage area, removed several embryos, and dropped them on the floor,…
Read MoreDocumentary Exposes Civil Rights Concerns in Alabama Prison System
A powerful new documentary is shining a spotlight on conditions within Alabama’s prison system, raising significant questions about civil rights, constitutional protections, and legal accountability in the state’s correctional facilities. The Documentary’s Revelations “The Alabama Solution,” directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2025. The film…
Read More$750,000 Settlement Reached in Alabama Police Shooting Case
After a lengthy legal battle spanning six years, the family of an Alabama man killed by police will receive a $750,000 settlement. The agreement resolves a federal civil rights lawsuit following a jury’s initial award of $4.5 million nearly a year ago. Case Background On June 15, 2019, Birmingham police officer Aric Mitchell attempted to…
Read MoreNo-Knock Raids in Alabama: Family Sues After Teen’s Death During Police Operation
The mother of a 16-year-old boy has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Mobile and police officers involved in a fatal no-knock raid that took place in November 2023. The case highlights growing concerns about police tactics in Alabama and raises important questions about accountability in wrongful death situations. The Incident…
Read MoreWhen Does Alabama Child Support Stop?
In October 2013, the Alabama Supreme Court delivered a ruling that upended 24 years of family law precedent and transformed the financial landscape for thousands of divorced parents across the state. The case—Ex parte Carolyn Sue Christopher—centered on a mother who refused to pay for her son’s college expenses just days after he turned 19. …
Read MoreCan You Pay Alabama Child Support Online?
In Alabama courtrooms, child support payment methods matter far more than many parents realize. As one recent Court of Civil Appeals case demonstrated in 2022, a father’s $1,348 monthly support payments—calculated based on income verified through his employer’s pay stubs—resulted in significant overpayments when the court modified his obligation. Despite documentation proving these excess payments,…
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