Help you when you are fearful of losing your children to DCF?

losing your children

How can a MA DCF Lawyer help you when you are fearful of losing your children to DCF?

Do You Want to Protect Your Family’s Best Interest? 

To protect your family from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (MA DCF) you should hire a trusted and experienced MA DCF Lawyer to represent you. DCF’s duties include investigating reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. DCF will investigate you if someone reported to DCF that you were abusing or neglecting your child. First, DCF receives a call from a mandated, non-mandated, or anonymous reporter.

A mandated reporter is required by law to report any suspect of abuse or neglect of a child. Mandated reporters can be:

  • Childcare Providers
  • Police Officers
  • Teachers
  • Pediatricians

A non-mandated reporter can be any citizen in the United States that suspects abuse or neglect of a child. Non-mandated reporters can be:

  • Neighbors
  • Family Members
  • Babysitters

An anonymous reporter simply reports the allegation to DCF. An anonymous reporter does not provide information to DCF.

 

How Will DCF Become Involved? 

DCF will become involved when the Department is concerned with the safety of your child. 

Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 119, Section 51A, if a mandated reporter has reasonable cause to believe that a child is being abused or neglected, they should immediately contact the Department. Other non-mandated reporters may also report instances of abuse or neglect.

When the DCF receives a 51A report, they are required to open an investigation. The investigation consists of a written evaluation of the child’s home environment and the potential risk of the child in the home. 

What will happen when DCF investigates 

 If MA DCF finds evidence of abuse or neglect within the household the children in question may be removed. 

The MA DCF investigation is a process where a social worker interviews and collects evidence to determine whether an allegation of child abuse or neglect is true or not.

A MA DCF investigation can be either emergency or non-emergency. In an emergency investigation, MA DCF will begin two hours of the Department filing a 51A report. The investigation must end within five working days, not including weekends. Emergency investigations begin when MA DCF believes the child is in immediate danger. 

During a MA DCF emergency investigation, MA DCF will visit the child within two hours of receiving the report. The family must be visited and interviewed at least one time during the first 24 hours.

A non-emergency investigation occurs when MA DCF determines that the allegations of child abuse or neglect were legitimate, but not serious enough to be considered an emergency.

The non-emergency investigation must be completed within 15 working days of receiving the report. In the investigation, a MA DCF investigator will visit the child’s home and interview everyone who could give them information on the reported family. 

 

How can a MA DCF Lawyer Help Parents?

If you are facing a DCF investigation, we advise you to immediately contact an experienced DCF attorney. One of the biggest mistakes that parents/ caregivers make is trying to represent themselves in fighting DCF. It is highly recommended that you retain an attorney during the investigation period and even after the investigation when DCF involvement can either continue into an assessment or be unsupported. 

 

What does a MA DCF Lawyer do for Parents During the DCF Investigation?

A MA DCF lawyer can help parents through the stages of the DCF investigation by providing support, and gathering and analyzing all the important documents. A trusted DCF lawyer will also offer the right legal advice that you need to get through your DCF case. Your lawyer can help you through the process by :

  • Visiting home visits ran by DCF social worker
  • Coaching you through how to best handle interviews
  • Functions as the middle representative between you and the court
  • Communicates directly with DCF so that you do not have to
  • Serves as a second set of eyes that watches over DCF procedures .

Don’t Wait Until You’re in Too Deep. Seek representation. 

If you find yourself being questioned, an experienced DCF attorney can provide the proper legal and emotional support parents may need. When the future of your child is in jeopardy, parents are confused, lost, and afraid of not being able to properly care for their children. 

DCF’s mission (110 CMR 1.00) is to protect children while keeping the family together. Hold them to their own philosophy. Request assistance from them when you need to. When DCF provides your family with services, you should review them with your lawyer and see if what DCF is asking you to do is fair. 

 

DISCLAIMER

You find yourself in this situation, it’s advisable to seek legal representation from a qualified attorney, like those at the Law Office of Kevin Seaver, who can advocate for your rights and guide you through the complex process of a DCF investigation.

Remember that the ultimate goal of DCF is to ensure the safety and well-being of children while supporting families in crisis.

Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers.

Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from the attorney based on personal circumstances. Thank you.

Kevin Patrick Seaver is a Massachusetts DCF Defense Lawyer who represents parents against false child abuse allegations.

 

Massachusetts DCF Defense Lawyer Kevin Seaver has been successfully fighting false child abuse allegations since 1991.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Call Now Button