From Family Court to Federal Court: My Fight for Parental Rights

Ryan Alvar
Jul 7
3 min read

United States Courthouse - District of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN

Today is Sloane’s 4th birthday.

I haven’t seen my daughter since January 3rd, 2025, and I haven't had her since July 2nd, 2024.

And even if I could see her, I’m not allowed to give her gifts.

She was taken from me just days before her 3rd birthday.

That means I haven’t celebrated a birthday with her since she was 2 years old.

Not because I’m dangerous. Not because I abandoned her.

But because a broken system decided my presence didn’t matter.

And last Wednesday—July 2nd, 2025—marked exactly one year since both of my youngest children, Declan (5) and Sloane (4), were taken from me.

I have a court order dated October 23, 2024, removing both children from an Order for Protection that was based on false allegations.

Even the court acknowledged in that order that I am a good parent who cares for and loves his children.

Yet here I am—still without them.

If that doesn’t prove how wrong this system is, I don’t know what would.

So today, I gave her the only gift I could.

I filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court.

It names 23 defendants—state, counties, cities, judges, attorneys, agencies, and state actors—who violated my rights, my children’s rights, and the Constitution itself.

This isn’t just about my case anymore.

This filing has the power to force nationwide reform—

to expose the truth about family court systems that destroy families instead of protecting them,

to challenge policies and people who operate with no accountability,

to push back against a machine that treats loving parents as expendable.

I would give anything to hold my daughter today.

To hug my son.

To give them both the love and safety they deserve.

But instead, I give them something that may one day protect not only them—but millions of children across this country.

I encourage you to read the full complaint, located here: Ryan Alvar v State of Minnesota et al.pdf

And if this story moves you, please support me and my children by sharing it.

The more people who see this, the harder it will be for those in power to keep hiding.

Happy Birthday, Sloane.

I miss you every day.

Love,

Dad

| "If you want to escape the clowns, you’ve got to leave the circus."

Ryan Alvar

Today, I did just that—and took the fight to federal court.

I know it’s not going to be easy.

But maybe this will be the turning point.

If I can make it to trial—

and if I can win—

this case won’t just prove how the family court system destroyed my family.

It will expose the patterns, the policies, and the unchecked power that are destroying families everywhere.

These constitutional violations will no longer stay buried in the shadows of Minnesota’s family court.

Because once they’re exposed in federal court, under federal law—

they become precedent.

And that precedent can be used to challenge the same injustices in every state.

To demand oversight.

To end immunity where it protects misconduct.

To hold government actors accountable.

At the federal level, we can protect every parent.

Every child.

Nationwide.

For every parent erased,

For every child alienated—

I give my daughter, on her 4th birthday, the one gift I’m still allowed to give her:

Hope.

—

Ryan -

Parent and Plaintiff

"370 days since my children were kidnapped. This isn't over."

— Ryan William Alvar, Parent and Plaintiff

🔁 Join the Fight for Reform

I've filed a federal civil rights lawsuit exposing how judges, attorneys, and government agencies have violated parental rights, erased families, and traumatized children.

Now I need your help to take this fight national.