When CPS Gets Involved, Fathers Need Effective Defense
Your children really matter to you. You love and want to protect them. Mistakes happen, though. Sometimes, Child Protective Services (CPS) can get involved in a case by mistake. When CPS investigates a situation, it can be because a teacher or another person reported their suspicion that a child is in harm’s way.
When Oklahoma CPS gets involved, the stakes could not be higher. The state can take your children and even charge you with felony crimes. There is no time to waste. Get an independent CPS attorney on your side.
In Oklahoma, anyone can report their suspicion of child abuse to the Department of Human Services (DHS). Anything that leaves an injury may be reported. Reportable behavior also includes all sorts of neglect. Neglect is a broad area. It can include things such as letting a child go to school in dirty clothing or being chronically truant from school. Whatever the situation, once CPS begins investigating you need to make sure that you have the help of a Tulsa CPS investigation attorney for fathers as soon as possible. You want to get help, so you can keep the children you love.
CPS And Child Removal
Most people don’t realize it, but CPS can step in and remove a child from the family home without warning. They then place your child in foster care until the end of the investigation and any court proceeding that can arise from it.
Some of the time, CPS performs a necessary role in investigating and protecting children. But every CPS worker has a large caseload. Mistakes can occur.
When CPS is investigating, it is important that a father is careful in their dealings with CPS. It is particularly helpful to have the aid of a Tulsa family law appeals lawyer with experience in CPS investigations.
A father involved in a CPS investigation should never try to handle that investigation on his own. An experienced Tulsa CPS investigation attorney can help a father prepare for any interviews or other investigative procedures used by CPS. If the matter goes to court, your attorney can help you prepare your case, gather evidence, and help you retain custody of your children.
This is not to be taken lightly. Your children really matter to you. Get the help you need. An attorney who specializes in this area knows both the administrative and investigative world that CPS inhabits and the courts and judges involved.
A CPS Investigation Can Lead To A Deprived Child Case
A report of suspected child abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence, or any other suspected harm can lead to a CPS investigation. In turn, a CPS investigation can lead to a case called a deprived child case. If that happens, representation is mandatory.
The district attorney decides whether to initiate a deprived child proceeding. If that proceeding is initiated, you will likely face many hearings. These cases can go on for quite a while in the court system. As a result, they can be expensive to handle.
Once a child is removed from the home and placed in foster care, visitation is often difficult. Visitation may be supervised. Experienced representation at the investigative phase can sometimes help prevent a case from becoming a deprived child case.
If your case has evolved into a deprived child case, the court will set out a reunification plan for you to implement to correct the conditions that led to the deprived case. There are often follow-up hearings to see how you are progressing in implementing the plan. These plans are often intricate and require a fair amount of time, effort, and money to implement.
When a parent is unable to complete a reunification plan, the court will sometimes alter parts of the plan. Other times, the state of Oklahoma will move to terminate the parent’s rights to the child. Your child could be put up for adoption. Hence, these cases have serious implications.
The earlier you get experienced Tulsa fathers rights attorneys involved, the better. Get the help you need by contacting an attorney today.
Low-cost Strategy Session With A Tulsa CPS Investigation Attorney For Fathers
Unfortunately, there are times when you must fight against CPS. Don’t try to do this on your own. Get help as soon as possible. Contact a Tulsa CPS investigation attorney for fathers who knows how Oklahoma CPS works. Call the CPS defense attorney at Dads.Law immediately. Call at 918-962-0900 or send a message by clicking the consultation button anywhere on this site.