Family Law

4.47

Advanced Custody Disputes: Parental Alienation, Mental Illness, and More

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 6 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 6 Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 7 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 6 Total
Florida CLE Approved 7 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 6 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Maine CLE Approved 6 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
North Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 6 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 6 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 6 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 7 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 6 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Rhode Island CLE Upon Request 6 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Utah CLE Approved 6 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 6 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 6 Total
Washington CLE Approved 6 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 6 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 48 minutes
Bretta Lewis
Spencer West
Aaron Bundy
Kayte Rossi
With Bretta Z. Lewis from Pender & Coward + 3 others
Recorded December 02, 2025.
Product ID 101310

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Overview

Transform Your Approaches to High-Conflict Custody Issues

A child is exhibiting resist-refuse behavior toward their father. The mother alleges the father is abusive; however, he denies the allegations and claims she is manipulating their child. How can you uphold your client's parental rights while safeguarding the child's best interests?

 

This scenario highlights just one of many challenges family lawyers face in custody disputes. However, there are strategies you can employ to tackle these problems with confidence. In this advanced-level program, our distinguished instructors discuss proven strategies for complex custody disputes. Advance your practice - register today!

 

  • Find out what needs to be established to prove parental alienation.
  • Review advanced custody solutions like immersion and flip custody orders.
  • Examine best practices for representing clients with mental health issues.
  • Discover how different states address non-biological parent custody claims.
  • Uncover practical guidance for handling ethical issues in high-conflict cases.

This program was designed in conjunction with NBI's esteemed 2023-2025 Content Advisory Committee Member Erika MacCormac.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Alienation Before the Courtroom: What You Need to Know
  2. Alienation in the Courtroom: Insights From the Pros
  3. Advanced Focus on Mental Health Issues Impacting Custody
  4. Non-Biological Parent Party Adversaries: Common Standards Across the States
  5. Custody Crossfire: Navigating Ethics in High-Conflict Cases

Related Topics

Product ID 101310

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 6 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 6 Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 7 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 6 Total
Florida CLE Approved 7 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 6 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Maine CLE Approved 6 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
North Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 6 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 6 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 6 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 7 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 6 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Rhode Island CLE Upon Request 6 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Utah CLE Approved 6 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 6 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 6 Total
Washington CLE Approved 6 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 6 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Alienation Before the Courtroom: What You Need to Know

    1. Case Law Evolution: Parental Alienation/Resist-Refuse Dynamics
    2. Elements to Be Proven
    3. Necessary Experts
      1. Individual Therapists for the Children or Parent
      2. Family and Reunification/Reintegration Therapists

  2. Alienation in the Courtroom: Insights From the Pros

    1. Evidentiary Issues
      1. Recordings and Texts
      2. Expert Reports and Advocacy (Interpretation and Argument)
      3. Child Witnesses
    2. Solutions to the Court (Including Immersion and Flip Custody)

  3. Advanced Focus on Mental Health Issues Impacting Custody

    1. Common Mental Illnesses You'll See in High-Stakes Custody Cases
      1. Depression
      2. Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression
      3. Anxiety
      4. Adjustment Disorder
    2. Spotting Mental Illness in Clients - and Key Steps to Take to Represent Them Effectively
    3. Preparing the Witness: From Your Client to the Opposing Party

  4. Non-Biological Parent Party Adversaries: Common Standards Across the States

    1. Adoptive Parents
    2. Grandparents
    3. Stepparents
    4. Non-Biological Mothers (Surrogate, Egg Donor, and Other Assisted Reproduction)
    5. Foster Parents
    6. De Facto Parents

  5. Custody Crossfire: Navigating Ethics in High-Conflict Cases

    1. Ethically Communicating With Therapists: What Are the Bounds?
    2. Client-Directed Advocacy: How to Respectfully Tell Clients “That's a Bad Idea”
    3. What to Do When You Have Concerns About a Client's Mental Capacity or Health

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for attorneys. Paralegals may also benefit.

Speakers

Bretta Z Lewis
Bretta Z.
Lewis
Pender & Coward
Spencer D West
Spencer D.
West
Mitchell & West, LLC
Aaron D Bundy
Aaron D.
Bundy
Bundy Law
Kayte Rossi
Kayte
Rossi
Jones Family Law Group, LLC
Speaker bio
Bretta Z Lewis

Bretta Z. Lewis

Pender & Coward
Bretta Lewis

is a shareholder with the Virginia Beach law firm of Pender & Coward, where she specializes in complex family law and equitable distribution matters. She has been certified as a guardian ad litem for children since 2005 and frequently represents children in cases of abuse, neglect, and high conflict custody cases. Ms. Lewis is an adjunct law professor at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary, a faculty member of the Harry L. Carrico Professionalism course required of all new Virginia lawyers, and serves on the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board as an immediate past member. She has served as a faculty member for Virginia CLE, Virginia State Bar, Virginia Employment Law Association, Virginia Beach Juvenile Court, Virginia Beach Bar Association, Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association, National Business Institute, Inns of Court, and the Tidewater Paralegal Association. Ms. Lewis is a frequent lecturer on topics relating to family law, general litigation, mediation and legal ethics. She holds a B.A. degree in history from the University of Virginia, a master's degree in English from George Mason University and a J.D. degree from William & Mary.

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Speaker bio
Spencer D West

Spencer D. West

Mitchell & West, LLC
Spencer West

is an equity partner, shareholder and co-founder of the law firm of Mitchell & West, LLC. He specializes in the area of family law. Mr. West is admitted to The Florida Bar and Massachusetts Bar Association; where he actively represents clients in an array of cases including divorces, custody, child support, relocation, modification, paternity and domestic violence disputes. In addition, he is permitted to practice before Florida federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. West has assisted many professional clients, including but not limited to doctors, lawyers, accountants and retired professional athletes with their high asset divorces and other disputes; as well as with drafting custom pre and postnuptial agreements. He is sought out by clients and other lawyers for his extensive expertise and dedication to fighting for his clients. Mr. West is an aggressive litigator who devotes himself to achieving the best results for his individual clients, while maintaining the highest ethical standards of professionalism. He earned his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University in Boston and his J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston.

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Speaker bio
Aaron D Bundy

Aaron D. Bundy

Bundy Law
Aaron Bundy

is the founder and senior partner at Bundy Law. His trial practice includes family law, criminal defense, and select civil cases. Mr. Bundy's practice also includes appellate work. His post-law school training includes trial skills training and an advanced business valuation seminar, both taught by South Carolina trial lawyer Tim Madden at the National Family Law Trial Institute in Houston; multiple trial skills and cross-examination clinics taught by legendary trial lawyer Roger Dodd; the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers trial skills seminar in Denver, Colorado; and the annual jury selection training hosted by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in New Orleans. Mr. Bundy frequently gives presentations about trial-related issues and developments to paralegals, lawyers, judges, and other professionals in the legal industry. He has written multiple articles about discovery, evidence, and trial practice. Recognized by Super Lawyers every year since 2013, Mr. Bundy is listed in the Spear's 500 Family Lawyers index and ranked "Band 1" by Chambers & Partners HNW Guide. In 2017, Oklahoma Bar Association presented him with the Earl Sneed Award, a recognition for outstanding continuing legal education contributions. Mr. Bundy is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

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Speaker bio
Kayte Rossi

Kayte Rossi

Jones Family Law Group, LLC
Kayte Rossi

is a dedicated family law attorney practicing exclusively in the areas of divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, and spousal support. She represents both men and women in complex family law matters, with a particular focus on high-conflict custody disputes and business valuation issues in divorce. Ms. Rossi practices in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County, Missouri. Prior to joining the Jones Family Law Group, LLC, she worked as a solo practitioner focusing on family law and estate planning. Ms. Rossi earned her J.D. degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and her B.A. degree from Loyola University New Orleans. In addition to her litigation practice, she is a certified family law mediator and maintains an active collaborative family law practice. Ms. Rossi's commitment to excellence in family law has earned her repeated recognition. In 2025, she was honored by Best Lawyers in America for her work in collaborative law: family law and family law mediation. Ms. Rossi was previously recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2021, 2022, 2024) and by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star from 2018 through 2024. She is a member of The Missouri Bar, Illinois State Bar Assocation, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and Collaborative Family Law Association. Ms. Rossi lives in the Shaw Neighborhood of St. Louis with her husband and their two children.

 

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