How a DCF Attorney Can Help in MA DCF Dependency Cases
This article will explain how a DCF attorney can help with Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (MA DCF) Dependency cases.
What Are DCF Dependency Cases?
When children come to court because a parent fails to properly take care of them, this is a juvenile dependency case. For any parent, involvement with a dependency case is extremely difficult. Dependency cases involve allegations of child abuse or child neglect by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (MA DCF).
Children are dependent on adults and need their protection. If parents cannot take care of their child properly, the juvenile court may step in and the child may become “dependent” on the court for safety. When this happens, the child may live with friends or relatives for a period of time.
The judge and social workers will work with parents to make their home safe. If they succeed, the child moves back home with the parents, which is known as reunification. When parents can’t make their home safe for the child, social workers may have to find another home where the child can live safely. This can result in the termination of parental rights.
Can a DCF Attorney Tell You What Power DCF Has?
Yes. A DCF attorney will emphasize to you exactly how risky being involved with DCF is. The Department can ruin your reputation at your job and in your community. But the worst thing DCF can do to you is remove your child from your home and put them in foster care. In some cases, DCF places the child with a relative or friend. The parent may have some visitation rights, but the court can order supervision during visitations.
What Power Do The Courts Have?
The court’s primary concern during a dependency case is the safety of the child. DCF and the court can give a family some aid and services necessary to help improve their ability to care for their child. To close the dependency case, DCF will draft a plan to parents that they need to follow. If the parents fail this, they could lose their parental rights.
How Can I Avoid Losing My Children in a Dependency Case with a DCF Attorney?
If DCF accuses you of abuse, neglect, or abandonment of a child, it is very serious. The first step you should take is successfully completing your case plan. If you do not, you could face a petition to terminate your parental rights. To do this, DCF must prove, with clear and convincing evidence, that you should lose all legal rights as a parent.
This type is a worst case scenario, however, so parents should focus on finishing the case plan. In the case that you face losing your parental rights, be sure to contact an experienced DCF attorney so your parental rights are not terminated.
Kevin Seaver is a trusted Massachusetts DCF Lawyer specialized in DCF law since 1991. 
[title style=”center” text=”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.
