When you are accused of a crime in the United States, you are entitled to representation from a defense attorney, and if you cannot afford a defense attorney, the Court may appoint a defense attorney to represent you. These same constitutional protections do not apply to investigations by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). While you do have the right to be represented by a defense attorney, you are not entitled to have an attorney appointed, if you cannot afford one.
You don’t have to go through this process alone. You can hire legal counsel, and the cost of a Newtown DCF lawyer may be more affordable than you think. More importantly, the value of a skilled attorney cannot be overvalued in these situations.
The cost of hiring a Newtown DCF lawyer varies from one law firm to another. Every lawyer has the right to set their own fees, and in these types of cases, lawyers often bill by the hour. Hourly billing tracks every minute that a lawyer devotes to a case, and it is applied to the lawyer’s hourly rate. Other attorneys may agree to handle certain cases for a flat fee as long as litigation does not become necessary.
Understanding a lawyer’s billing structure before hiring them is important. Misunderstandings regarding these details can lead to serious conflicts in the future and strain the attorney/client relationship. The best way to ensure everyone is on the same page is to discuss billing issues during the initial consultation.
No one is required to hire an attorney while under investigation by DCF, and many parents or guardians choose to face these challenges on their own. It is natural to want to save money, and the thought of paying for a lawyer might seem too costly. However, facing investigators alone comes with its own risks.
Every case is different, which makes it essential to have the support of legal counsel who has experience and has faced many unique investigations. When unexpected issues arise, they can address them with their client(s) and help a parent understand and foresee what is likely to happen next.
One of the major pitfalls of facing this challenge alone is that parents may not know all of their rights. DCF agents often do not inform a person that they are allowed to refuse a request or ask for different options. A lawyer can ensure that you are protected during every stage of the process.
The cost of hiring a Rowayton DCF lawyer is only one important consideration. This is an investment into a person’s ability to keep their parental rights and potentially secure their freedom as well. Getting the right representation is vital.
This unique area of the law makes experience crucial to a successful defense. This is why the most important consideration is whether an attorney has handled many diverse DCF investigations in the past. It is not enough to have been practicing for years. What matters more is the experience of having handled many diverse cases, from DCF investigations to neglect petitions and FAR cases.
The best way to find out what to expect from hiring an attorney is by speaking with them directly during a private consultation. You can learn what it costs to hire a Newtown DCF lawyer and discuss how they can assist with your case. Reach out to Mark Sherman Law right away to get started, and click here to view our Avvo profile with over 300 certified reviews.
