The statistics on children being abused and neglected by single parents do not paint a positive picture, and DCPP investigates these cases with astounding frequency in New Jersey. That being said, you are not a statistic. Your family is undoubtedly unique and you deserve to defend your parenting if child protective services is investigating you. […]

Is Mental Illness a Risk Factor for Child Abuse and Neglect in NJ? Recently, Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit organization, revealed that 16.4% of New Jersey adults suffered mental illness between 2018 and 2019. Since then, the pandemic increased those numbers for certain mental health conditions, namely anxiety and depression. When mental health issues dominate a […]

As a person accused of child abuse or neglect in New Jersey, it is imperative that you understand all of types of reports that a litigant will typically encounter in a DCPP case and how to challenge the reports. For anyone that is not familiar with child welfare matters, a typical file can become quite […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Options for Children Taken by Child Protective Services in NJ Two of the legal processes important for family members and loved ones to know with regard to DCPP cases are kinship legal guardianship and adoption. These terms are used to refer to significantly different options that may present as potential resolutions in your child abuse […]

When facing claims of child abuse and a DCPP investigation in New Jersey, you may be wondering if you should hire a family lawyer to handle your case. Many complex questions can arise for you from the moment you learn you are under investigation. Even when the case does not reach the level of criminal […]