Los Angeles Child Protective Services Attorney
The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), also known as CPS, is charged with investigating and taking what they deem to be appropriate action when allegations of the mistreatment of a child are brought to their attention. The DCFS can do an amazing amount of good, but when proper procedures are not followed or an overzealous investigator comes to a conclusion that is not true, families and reputations can suffer.
Do You Need A Lawyer For DFCS?
Are you facing false allegations of child abuse or have you otherwise been the victim of excesses at the hands of the DCFS? It may seem as though you are powerless in the face of an impenetrable bureaucracy with access to such significant resources. But, you are not powerless.
My firm, Stolar & Associates, A Professional Law Corporation, has been helping families stay together for 35 years. I am Steven Stolar, a Los Angeles Child Protective Services lawyer respected in the courts and amongst my peers in the legal community. I know how to present effective cases that can refute DCFS findings and help you protect your family.
Schedule an initial consultation. Contact my firm today!
Can A Lawyer Help With CPS?
With effective legal representation, you can level the playing field and protect your family. It is critical that you take action as soon as possible, hopefully before you are interviewed. Many people make the mistake of believing that they can simply explain the situation. Often, people come out of these interviews having made their situation worse rather than better.
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A key component of successfully defending yourself and your family from the DCFS can be the utilization of experts to support your opinion. Our firm understands the value experts can bring and will employ them as necessary to provide our clients with the protection they need.
Helping Parents Fight Back Against CPS
When allegations of child abuse reach the DCFS, they will begin an investigation if they feel the reports are credible. A number of these reports are based on misinterpretations of stories as related by children or common elements of childhood such as bruising from roughhousing. A key element of that investigation will be to conduct an interview with the child’s parents.
By law, signs of child abuse must be reported by professionals such as:
- Teachers
- Doctors
- Day care providers
- Mental health professionals
- Social workers
- Law enforcement officials
If you have been contacted by DCFS so that they can interview you, you need to take proactive steps to protect yourself and your family. At Stolar & Associates, A Professional Law Corporation, I do not recommend talking with DCFS social workers without the presence of an attorney who is familiar with their process. Let me help you gain some sense of control over this time-sensitive situation.
Why You Need An Attorney To Deal With DCFS Matters
If you are contacted by the DCFS as part of an investigation of suspicions that you are abusing your children, you need to understand just what is at stake: your family. Such a request may seem like something that requires your cooperation. You want to clear up any misapprehensions about how you are raising your children. That is a perfectly natural reaction.
Cooperating facts, however, may lead you to incriminate yourself unnecessarily:
- DCFS social workers may misunderstand what you are trying to say.
- DCFS social workers may take natural reactions to such a situation like frustration as evidence that supports suspicions of child abuse
It is critical that you have the representation of an attorney who understands how the DCFS works and what their social workers are looking for when you talk to them. This is your best protection against abuses of process and misapprehension of the facts by the DCFS.
Stolar & Associates, A Professional Law Corporation, is the firm you need on your side at this time.
I understand how much damage the DCFS can do to your family and personal reputation when they are conducting an investigation and things go awry. I can help ensure that your best interests and your children’s best interests are protected when you are dealing with the DCFS. I rely on experience gained in 35 years of practice to offer my clients the exceptional representation and protection they deserve. Part of that experience is knowing when to bring in experts to bolster your position. I have worked with numerous experts over the years, and I understand who to bring in to be the most help to you and your individual situation.
Juvenile Dependency Defense Services
If you are currently under investigation from social workers from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or any Child Protective Services (CPS) agency, your parental rights to have custody of your children may be in danger.
Sometimes, an “anonymous caller” will trigger an investigation from state or city agencies. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon that the anonymous caller was an ex-spouse, former boyfriend or girlfriend, or simply a neighbor or acquaintance who doesn’t like you. Furthermore, many social workers have personal agendas and won’t act favorably to parents and their interests.
If your right to take custody of your child has been wrongfully infringed as a result of false or inaccurate allegations and unfair procedural steps taken by a Child Protective Services agency, you should consult an attorney experienced in juvenile dependency defense cases. Juvenile court has distinct procedural rules that often catch even experienced family law practitioners off guard.
At Stolar & Associates, A Professional Law Corporation, I can help you with the following juvenile dependency issues:
- Court-connected child protection or dependency mediation
- Prehearing motions
- Prehearing discovery
- Substance abuse treatment programs
- Juvenile court appeals
As an experienced juvenile dependency defense attorney, I can help make sure you comply with the procedural requirements for juvenile dependency cases. Such cases have strict procedural deadlines where noncompliance can mean losing custody of your kids. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or even foster parent, I understand the emotional pressure and stress that comes from juvenile dependency cases.
Even allegations that you were smoking marijuana can cause a social worker or agency from the DCFS or CPS agency to start an investigation. Even if you, in fact, suffer from some degree of substance abuse, this may not necessarily mean you are unfit to have custody of your children. I am dedicated to advocating for your parental rights to make sure you and your child can an enjoy a healthy, stable parent-child relationship. I can arrange to enroll you in a substance abuse treatment program as evidence of your commitment to providing your kids with a healthy and stable environment.
Contact A Beverly Hills CPS Defense Lawyer Today
Discovering that your name appears on the California Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) can lead to tremendous difficulties regarding employment, especially for those in careers that work with children. My Beverly Hills family law firm can help you pursue a grievance hearing and take all steps necessary to help you fight any allegations of child abuse.
If you are a parent whose children have been taken by DCFS or you are under investigation, you need to take action to ensure that you have representation that is capable of providing you with exceptional family law advocacy at this crucial time. At my Beverly Hills-based firm, I have the necessary skills and experience to be able to help you protect your family.
For the legal representation you need against DCFS, give my office a call today.