Top Dover, NJ Child Abandonment Lawyers Near You
Former New Jersey Prosecutors Defending Your Rights. Call Today!
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Experienced, Aggressive, Criminal Defense including DUIs in all New Jersey Courts. 24 HOUR AVAILABILITY.
Free Consultation
34 North Sussex Street, Dover, NJ 07801
Other Nearby Offices
Representing clients with Child Abandonment issues in New Jersey, Aiello Harris Abate Law Group, PC, a reputable law firm based in Dover.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
21 Main Street, Suite 200W, Hackensack, NJ 07601
For legal issues concerning Child Abandonment, let Sutnick & Sutnick, LLC, a local practice in Dover, New Jersey, help you find a solution.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
142 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Other Nearby Offices
In Dover, New Jersey area, Weisberg & Klauber, LLC can help clients with their Child Abandonment needs.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
470 Grant Ave, Oradell, NJ 07649
Clients needing legal solutions for Child Abandonment can connect with Law Office of E. Gregory M. Cannarozzi, a local New Jersey practice.
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
501 Grand Ave., Asbury Park, NJ 07712
If you need Child Abandonment help in New Jersey, contact Law Ofiice of Prosper A. Bellzia, a local practice in Dover, for legal representation.
Free Consultation
600 Valley Rd, Suite 205, Wayne, NJ 07470
The Law Office of Robert J. Cascone helps Dover clients with their Child Abandonment needs.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
15 Commerce Blvd., Succasunna, NJ 07876
2053 Woodbridge Ave, Edison, NJ 08817
80 Court Street, Freehold, NJ 07728
46 Wilson Drive, Sparta, NJ 07871
347 Mt. Pleasant Ave #203, West Orange, NJ 07052
8 Campus Dr, Suite 105, Parsippany, NJ 07054
549 Summit Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
63 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
245 Main Street, Suite 203, Chester, NJ 07930
50 Park Place, Suite 1101, Newark, NJ 07102
6 Pompton Ave, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
60 Washington Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
703 Richmond Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
157 Engle St, Englewood, NJ 07631
165 East Main Street, Denville, NJ 07834
15 Mountain Blvd, Warren, NJ 07059
7 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940
685 Van Houten Ave, Clifton, NJ 07013
28 Valley Road, Suite 1, Montclair, NJ 07042
Dover Child Abandonment Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Child Abandonment attorneys in Dover and checks their standing with New Jersey bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
State Required Disclosure: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Child Abandonment Cases
A child may be deemed abandoned in a variety of ways ranging from leaving an infant on a doorstep to parents being unwilling to provide care, support or supervision of a child. The exact situations that count as child abandonment vary from location to location, so it is best to contact a local attorney know precisely constitutes child abandonment in New Jersey.
What Is Child Abandonment?
Child abandonment typically refers to an offense in which one or more parents knowingly and intentionally deserts a child without regard to the welfare of the child or fails to provide the necessary and required care of their child, leading to gross neglect.
In less grave circumstances, child abandonment cases can also be brought against defendants on the basis of more technical matters, such as leaving the child in the care of a non-relative or non-custodial guardian for more than three to six months without making contact or providing financial support to said child.
How to Prove Child Abandonment
In more egregious cases of child abandonment, it is evidently clear to investigating authorities that child abandonment has taken place such as eyewitness accounts, no parent present, no guardian present, the child living in squalor or suffering from obvious malnutrition.
However, in many cases, the nuances surrounding a child abandonment case may actually be a matter of contested facts or circumstances between the prosecution (representing a private plaintiff, whether a spouse, ex-spouse or family member attempting to annul parental rights of the alleged offender) and the defendant.
In these cases, the prosecution typically looks for firmer evidence that meets the requirements for termination of the defendant’s parental rights and any further penalties belonging to the alleged abandonment according to state statutes. For example, illustrating via a lack of messaging and/or money that the defendant likely did not make any effort to contact or support a child legally under their care.
How Many Days Away Is Considered Child Abandonment?
The answer to this question depends entirely on the state in which the plaintiff is pursuing charges. In some states, a definite time frame is not laid out in contested cases where a parent may be making “token” or “incidental” visits to the child they are legally responsible for, fostering no meaningful relationship over a long period of time, etc. However, if the parent(s) cannot be found by authorities after a 60-day search period in more obvious cases of abandonment, that is the legal deadline before charges can be filed.
In other states, if the child has been left without proper documentation (birth certificate) by the legal parent(s), or if the parent(s) have left the child in the care of another person for at least six months with no material support or connection, or if the plaintiff themselves has been caring for the child for one year without any material connection being made from the defendant to the child this can be grounds to form the elements of a child abandonment case.
In general, these rules apply more broadly to most states, with the vast majority of U.S. jurisdictions having enacted similar statutes regarding the practice of child abandonment.
Can You Go to Jail for Child Abandonment in New Jersey?
Yes. Child abandonment is a serious offense and those convicted of it are likely to face incarceration as well as monetary fines.
What Is the Penalty for Child Abandonment?
The penalty for child abandonment depends both upon the state statutes relevant to the case (which state the case is being tried in) as well as the severity of the situation surrounding the abandonment, with a focus on the particulars.
In certain states, child abandonment can be classified as either felony or as a misdemeanor. The former can result in a possible six-year prison term, while the latter can see those convicted facing up to a year in jail in addition to a fine of $2,000.
Can a Lawyer Help With Child Abandonment Charges?
If you are facing charges related to child abandonment, your first step toward resolving the matter should be to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney.
A skilled attorney familiar with child abandonment cases, case law and the precedent established by former state court judgments is an invaluable asset in protecting yourself. A lawyer familiar with these matters can advise you as to how best to proceed with your case.
A conviction related to child abandonment can lead to a lifelong criminal record, and so it is vitally important to secure adequate legal counsel before proceeding.
If you have been charged with the crime of child abandonment, you need legal representation. Each state has its own child abandonment laws categorizing child abandonment as either a felony and other states may categorize it as a misdemeanor. For information regarding the penalties and punishment for violating child abandonment laws, contact an attorney.