In a July 2026 article published by Maryland Bar Journal magazine, Christopher Castellano explores how family law attorneys can use artificial intelligence responsibly while avoiding the evidentiary and ethical challenges it presents. As clients increasingly bring AI-generated documents, summaries, and custody proposals into their cases, Christopher explains what that means for practitioners.
Family law evidence often includes everyday materials such as text message screenshots, social media posts, and financial spreadsheets. Christopher explains that AI can make this information appear organized and credible even when it is inaccurate or incomplete. He points to Maryland Rule 5-901 as a key standard for authenticating evidence and highlights a recent Maryland appellate case involving fabricated AI-generated citations as a cautionary example. No matter what tool creates the content, attorneys remain personally responsible for everything they submit.
“The broader lesson is that AI does not dilute the lawyer’s personal responsibility for legal work submitted to your client or a court,” Christopher wrote.
“It is the attorneys who responsibly embrace AI that will help to forge a new and successful path forward, as opposed to those who reject AI, who risk being left behind.”
Read the full article, “Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Family Law.”
