COVID-19 Family Law Resources
The Law Office of Warren Shiell extends its deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the COVID crisis particularly those in the medical professions and other essential workers. While our mission to help families in times of crisis has not changed, the practice of family law has changed for the time being. Family law courts are closed for most family law cases. To protect our current clients, potential new clients and staff, we are offering over the phone consultations as well as Zoom video conferences. The practice of family law is constantly evolving in response to the crisis and it is important to stay current with local and State orders. We have found the following family law resources to be particularly helpful.

The Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles (LASC)
The LASC News Center has a dedicated COVID-19 News and Resource Center which includes local and Statewide judicial orders affecting the practice of family law in Los Angeles.

http://www.lacourt.org/newsmedia/ui/covid19NewsCenter.aspx

The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
The premier interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict. AFCC members are the leading practitioners, researchers, teachers and policymakers in the family court arena. Their web site contains an excellent COVID-19 Recourses and Information area. https://www.afccnet.org/Coronavirus

Family Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar
LACBA has made available several free webinars that address the effect of the pandemic on family law. https://www.lacba.org/connect/sections/family-law/family-law

Diacritical Musk and Grimes Baby

The great thing about family law is that there is always something new to learn.

This week I learned the word “Diacritical.” Probably because I was never much for learning languages.

Diacritical is defined in Wikipedia as “A diacritic (also diacritical mark, diacritical point, diacritical sign, or accent) is a glyph added to a letter or basic glyph. The term derives from the Ancient Greek διακριτικός (diakritikós, "distinguishing"), from διακρίνω (diakrī́nō, "to distinguish"). Diacritic is primarily an adjective, though sometimes used as a noun, whereas diacritical is only ever an adjective. Some diacritical marks, such as the acute ( ´ ) and grave ( ` ), are often called accents. Diacritical marks may appear above or below a letter, or in some other position such as within the letter or between two letters.” Many languages have diacritical words and names.

I have Elon Musk and Grimes to thank for reportedly naming their new baby “X Æ A-12” for learning the word Diacritical. But can he do that?

Since the baby was born in California, we look at what California will do. California’s naming laws are fairly relaxed compared to some countries. For example, Sweden has strict naming laws and baby names such “Metallica” and “IKEA” have not been allowed. My favorite is a couple in New Zealand who were prohibited from naming their twins Fish and Chips.  

California’s Office of Vital Records will only record “the 26 alphabetical characters of the English language with appropriate punctuation if necessary.” The Office explicitly prohibits “pictographs, ideograms, [or] diacritical marks” (including “ ´e,” “ ˜n,” and “¸c”).  

In 2014 California rejected a bill changing the ban on diacritical marks as names due to its high cost.  Therefore it is likely that Musk and Grimes (which itself sounds a bit like laddish aftershave that Guy Richie might wear) fill out the name “X Æ A-12” on the baby’s birth certificate at the hospital, it will most likely be rejected by the California Office of Vital Records because it contains diacritical marks.

The couple could sue and argue that parents have a constitutional unfettered right to name their children. Several Federal cases have struck down state laws naming rights based on substantive due process rights. The Supreme Court in the “Troxel” case which recognized the right of grandparent visitation, held that the “the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody and control of their children.” Justice O’Connor stated, “is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court.” An argument of this kind might be used if Musk were to challenge any decision by the California Office of Vital Records not to allow “X Æ A-12.”