Case Highlights:
- Emergency room doctor filed a mandated report against Mom
- Allegation of medical neglect, not first involvement with DCF
- Sought representation because mother felt she wasn’t given a chance to explain herself. DCF was manipulating her words
- Mom worked with Attorney Seaver to develop a plan, was guided through the process
- Mom regained custody of her son with Attorney Seaver’s help.
Case Study:
This case involves a Mom facing allegations of neglect when an emergency room doctor filed a mandated report. The doctor believed Mom appeared intoxicated while in the emergency room, and had a disheveled appearance. There was no confirmation of this; however, they filed neglect nonetheless.
The decision to file for custody of the child was made on the spot, after interviewing the child alone. The child made outlandish claims about Mom as well as Dad, and gave the Department of Children and Families enough information to run with a report that painted Mom as a substance and alcohol abuser.
All she was doing was attempting to provide care for her ill son, and it turned into a nightmare instantaneously. This was not Mom’s first involvement with DCF, so when they tried to take the child from her she was very upset with the situation. She knew that if DCF had the power to take her child right there on the spot, it would be difficult for her to fight to gain custody of her Child back.
Mom needed an attorney who was dedicated and could get her child back. Attorney Seaver was thorough and worked through every detail of the case. He guided her throughout the process when she did everything alone and told her exactly what to do.
They worked together on nights, weekends and holidays to ensure that every precaution was taken and that a successful plan was implemented to return the child to Mom. Once the proper documentation had been filed, DCF had no choice but to return custody to Mom and close the case.
The allegations stemming from the suspicion of alcohol abuse were unfounded and were no longer a point of argument. From this resolution, the case was closed and the child returned home to Mom happy and safe, and out of custody.
If 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.
