Changes to New Jersey Marijuana Laws and their Impact on Child Welfare Litigation
Following the 2020 Election and effective January 1, 2021, the New Jersey Constitution was amended to proclaim that the manufacturing, transferring, and consumption of cannabis by persons 21 years of age shall now be lawful. A few months later, in February of 2021, new legislation was passed that stated possession of marijuana in the quantity […]
read full articlePrivacy in a DCPP Case
Confidentiality and its Limits if the Division of Child Protection and Permanency Opens a Case If the Division of Child Protection and Permanency receives a report concerning child abuse or neglect, the agency is legally mandated to open up an investigation. To that end, the Division will create and maintain a large number of documents […]
read full articleThe Evolution of New Jersey’s Child Protection Agency
A parent or guardian to a child has a legal duty to ensure that the child is properly cared for and his or her basic needs are being met. If, for whatever reason, those responsibilities are not being taken care of, the State has the power to intervene in order to protect the child. In […]
read full articleChanges to Child Welfare Litigation
What has Changed about Child Welfare Case Processes in New Jersey Child welfare litigation is constantly changing. As public awareness grows, so too does the law. The agency that handles such matters itself was created in 1899 and started with only seven volunteers. As public concern surrounding the issue evolved, so did the agency. Presently, […]
read full articleSiblings & Relatives in New Jersey DYFS Matters
Children, siblings, relatives, and any member of the household can play a very important role in DCP&P investigations. Like any inquiry or probe, what a person says can carry a great amount of weight and can determine the fate of how a case is decided. However, what can be most alarming about a DCP&P investigation […]
read full articleWhat’s the Difference Between Title 9 and Title 30 in New Jersey?
Title 9 vs. Title 30 in NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency Cases If you are placed into the unfortunate set of circumstances where the Division of Child Protection and Permanency has entered your lives, it’s important to understand your rights. To do that, you need to comprehend what gives DCPP its authority to […]
read full articleRight to Counsel in a DCF Case
Am I Entitled to a Lawyer when Facing DCFS in New Jersey? In New Jersey, any parent facing allegations of child abuse or neglect have a constitutional right to counsel under Article I, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey State Constitution. On top of that, our lawmakers also codified the right to counsel under both […]
read full articleSigns and Indicators of Abuse: What DCPP is Looking For in New Jersey
Wondering what Tells DYFS that a Child may be Abused or Neglected in NJ? Before we discuss what the Division of Child Protection and Permanency will be searching for when it is conducting an investigation, it is important to first understand what constitutes child abuse or neglect in New Jersey. In our State, child abuse […]
read full articleCan You Sue DCPP?
Filing a Lawsuit Against DYFS in New Jersey Are you wondering if you have the ability to sue child protective services in New Jersey. The answer is yes, an aggrieved parent or family member can file a civil lawsuit against the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in limited circumstances. In fact, the Division of […]
read full articleIs Leaving a Child Unattended Considered Neglect in New Jersey?
A neighbor reported your child was roaming the neighborhood alone, and now child protective services wants to investigate you. Of course, you’re worried about your family and what happens next. Understanding what happens in a child neglect investigation by DCPP/DYFS and whether leaving your child unattended is neglect can help. To talk to an experienced […]
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