Top Virginia Beach, VA CPS Lawyers Near You
2101 Parks Avenue, Suite 300, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
332 West Constance Road, PO Box 1458, Suffolk, VA 23439
4176 South Plaza Trail, Suite 128, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
468 Viking Dr, Suite 200, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
2697 International Parkway, Parkway II, Suite 106, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
5425 Discovery Park Blvd, Suite 200, Williamsburg, VA 23188
555 Main Street, 14th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510
125 St. Pauls Boulevard, Suite 150, Norfolk, VA 23510
12610 Patrick Henry Drive, Suite D, Newport News, VA 23602
222 Central Park Avenue, Suite 400, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
303 34th Street, Suite 7, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
5442 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23509
716 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Suite B, Newport News, VA 23601
1333 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
109 E. Main Street, Suite 600, Norfolk, VA 23510
220 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Suite 102, Chesapeake, VA 23322
710 Denbigh Blvd, Ste 2E, Newport News, VA 23608
1307 Jamestown Road, Suite 201, Williamsburg, VA 23185
5041 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 225, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
101 West Main Street, 500 World Trade Center, Norfolk, VA 23510
308 George Washington Hwy N, Suite 1, Chesapeake, VA 23323
301 Bendix Rd, Suite 460, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
910 West Mercury Blvd., Suite 2A, Hampton, VA 23666
565 N Birdneck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
4212 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504
Virginia Beach CPS Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies CPS attorneys in Virginia Beach and checks their standing with Virginia 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.
What Does CPS Look for in a Home Visit?
When a CPS worker visits a home, they’ll look for signs that indicate how safe a home is or not. For example, is it exceedingly dirty to the point it poses a health hazard? Is there adequate food? Are there open signs of illegal activity like drug paraphernalia? Are dangerous objects or weapons easily accessible to children? Do the children have appropriate necessities? They won’t expect a spotless, perfect home, just one that meets reasonable safety standards. They’ll also be gauging your and your family’s behavior and will likely want to interview some or all of you to get a better sense of your routine and the kind of home life you have.
Are There Any CPS Lawyers Near Me In Virginia Beach, VA?
The possibility of losing your children is more than many parents can bear. Getting the representation you deserve to protect your rights is never more important than when you are faced with a CPS case. You have rights under the law and an experienced CPS attorney will help you navigate the system to work toward a positive outcome for everyone. The LawInfo directory can assist you in finding a verified CPS lawyer in Virginia Beach.
When Can CPS Take Your Child?
CPS can usually only remove a child from their home if there’s a valid, reasonable concern for the child’s safety. An order for removal is typically granted by a judge, either after an investigation or before an investigation if they consider your situation such a severe emergency that it requires instant separation. Emergency removal cases are rare, however, so unless there is an immediate threat, an investigation will need to take place first. Cases of neglect and abuse are the most likely causes for CPS to take your children.
What Happens if You Ignore CPS?
If a CPS caseworker contacts you as part of an investigation against you, you have some options for how to respond. Unless the caseworker has a warrant signed by a judge, you don’t have to let them into your home. You can also refuse to answer questions, and if your kids are home with you, you could prevent the caseworker from interviewing them at that time. However, your case will remain open and the investigation will continue. They may be able to come back with a search warrant to enter your home, get a court order to interview your children, or may even be allowed to interview your kids while they’re at school, even without your permission.
What if I Have a Complaint About CPS?
CPS exists to take care of children and families, but the process doesn’t always go perfectly each time. If you have a complaint about a CPS employee, you can try to talk to them directly and then escalate your concern to their manager if the employee is not willing to work things out with you. There are several levels of supervision within the CPS system, and you can escalate complaints all the way up to the state director. Some jurisdictions will even have a dedicated ombudsman who will investigate administrative complaints. If your concern applies more to systematic or policy issues within CPS, you may have related community organizations in your area you can contact, or you can reach out to your state representatives.
What Is a Dependency Case?
Minor children are considered legally dependent on adult caretakers. When a child is left without a guardian who can take care of them, Child Protective Services may intervene and petition the courts to step in to support the child as a dependency case. Children may end up as dependents of the court if there’s evidence that they’re being abused by their parent or guardian, if their caretaker is neglecting or has abandoned them, or if the guardian becomes incarcerated, is struggling with substance abuse, or is otherwise unable to take care of the child. In most cases, the courts will try to assign programs to help the parents or guardians gain resources and education to better care for their children for family reunification. When that’s not possible, the children will usually wind up living with another relative or in foster care.