When someone representing the Department of Children and Families (DCF) knocks on your door, you may not know how to respond. These individuals, often referred to as DCF investigators, are likely to demand to come inside, subject you to an interview, and try to speak to your children outside of your presence. They will try to intimidate you into doing as they ask, and they will not tell you your legal rights.
If DCF has contacted you in person, by phone or letter concerning an investigation regarding reports of abuse or neglect in your family, get in touch with the Law Offices of Mark Sherman immediately. DCF has broad powers to disrupt your life and even remove your children from your care, so you must take the matter seriously. Hiring a Wilton DCF investigation attorney is a critical step in preserving your family and your future.
When hiring an attorney, one of the first questions you should ask is whether they have experience representing parents in the DCF investigation process. These investigations are not criminal matters, but sometimes criminal charges can result from an investigation. DCF investigations are far more consequential than a typical civil matter, because you could potentially lose custody of your children and even your parental rights.
A DCF investigation is unlike other matters that most attorneys handle. It requires a legal professional who is not only familiar with the steps in the investigation and appeals process, but who is also capable of aggressive representation. Without this, DCF could position itself to keep you under supervision for years, and the threat of further action could hang over you and your family the entire time. Your attorney’s role is crucial in preventing this from happening.
Our firm has 25 years of combined experience representing parents and guardians in DCF investigations. We know how the process works, and most importantly, we know your rights.
No parent is perfect, but most parents want to be the best they can be. When your parenting skills are called into question, especially on false or weak evidence, it is natural to get defensive. However, effective representation during a DCF investigation requires frank communication on both sides.
A seasoned attorney can draw on their experience with DCF cases to explain the likely outcomes in a specific case. Our team typically takes an aggressive approach to limit the scope of the investigation and we ensure that the investigators do not overreach or take advantage of you.
When a parent has an issue that should be addressed, such as an addiction, taking proactive steps is sometimes appropriate. It is crucial to have candid conversations with the attorney you hire about these private matters so that they can achieve the result that will most likely keep your family together during a Wilton DCF investigation.
Parents who are confident that they have done nothing wrong are sometimes reluctant to hire an attorney. They may believe that doing is a red flag that they have something to hide. That is an incorrect and dangerous assumption.
An experienced DCF defense attorney can explain the investigation process, protect your rights, prevent the investigators from harassing or taking advantage of you, and demand information from DCF that the social worker may be unwilling to provide directly to you.
When you are subject to a DCF investigation, every moment counts. The social workers are under time pressure to conclude the investigation and may not be as thorough as they should be or receptive to the information you provide. Hiring a Wilton attorney as soon as DCF contacts you can lead to a shorter, more focused investigation that closes without any findings against you.
Any DCF investigation can threaten your family’s future. Having skilled and experienced legal representation is essential to protect you from the department’s aggressive and often unwarranted tactics.
Hiring a Wilton DCF investigation attorney from the Law Offices of Mark Sherman is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your children. We are available 24/7, so call as soon as you are contacted by a DCF investigator. Call Mark Sherman Law today to set up a meeting, and read some of the 300+ certified reviews from satisfied past clients on our Avvo.com profile by clicking here.
