Legal Services

Parents who have their children removed by Child Protective Services (CPS) are immediately faced with tight timelines and difficult challenges. Sometimes the biggest challenge is that no one is willing to listen, empathize, and provide real assistance. In other cases, challenges come from circumstances well beyond a parent's control. David has more than three decades of successfully helping parents navigate the child welfare system and can assist any parent in working toward/achieving their goals.

Caregivers and Relatives

Despite being the ones who provide day-to-day care to our most vulnerable children, caregivers and relatives are often treated by CPS as hired help. Caregivers and relatives have rights, and a voice in child welfare proceedings. CPS holds a lot of power over placement and other key decisions, but this power is not unlimited. Having an attorney can help hold them accountable and achieve the best outcome for the children you love.

Family Representation in CPS Investigations

Getting a call or knock on the door from a CPS social worker can truly be the most terrifying moment in someone's life. CPS is not required to tell you who sent them or exactly what caused them to open an investigation, but you do have rights. Having an attorney alongside you to help navigate the investigation process and provide CPS with evidence and proper perspective can be essential in ensuring that the investigation goes no further than necessary, and concludes in a way that allows your family to move forward.

CACI Proceedings

The Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) is a federal database that can be accessed through a background check, such as LiveScan. Placement in this database will prevent you from working with children (as an educator or daycare provider), as well as prevent you from volunteering in your child's classroom and chaperoning field trips. In certain cases, it can also prohibit employees from certain security clearances, making certain jobs and promotional opportunities impossible to obtain. Defending against CACI allegations can be extremely difficult, and having an experienced attorney on your side is sometimes the only way to keep your name out of this database.