Exploring the Alternatives When the DCPP, New Jersey’s CPS agency, files a parental rights termination action, it presumes it is in the child’s best interests. This isn’t always the case, and even if terminating parental rights is in the best interests of the child, litigating the matter may not be the best option. In many…
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Building a Defense in Your Termination of Parental Rights Case
How to Face Your Termination of Parental Rights Case When facing your termination of parental rights case, you might have strong concerns. Termination of parental rights is a grave matter. Accordingly, you should have an attorney represent you throughout your case. If DCPP has stated its intent to terminate your parental rights, but you don’t…
Read More »Losing Parental Rights? What New Jersey CPS Should Tell You
Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare Losing parental rights is one of the most devastating ordeals a parent can go through. But many New Jersey parents lose their parental rights each year. State Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies seek the termination of parental rights in child abuse and neglect cases. If New Jersey’s CPS agency is threatening…
Read More »A Parent’s Right to Discipline: When It Goes Too Far
Forms of Discipline Parents discipline children for many reasons. For many parents, discipline is often a matter of personal choice. Some parents believe spanking is an acceptable form of punishment. Others see it as child abuse. In the eyes of New Jersey law, corporal punishment—like spanking—lies in a gray area. Spanking isn’t strictly illegal in…
Read More »Accidental Injuries and Allegations: Are Parents to Blame?
Accidental Injuries Children are prone to accidents while they play, explore, and grow. When a child is injured accidentally, the parents—in most cases—aren’t to blame. But what happens when someone makes false allegations of child abuse because of a common childhood injury? Should the parents be held accountable? How can they prove they weren’t to…
Read More »What Is an Unfit Parent?
An unfit parent is one who is incapable of providing a nurturing, safe, and appropriate environment for their child when that inability puts the child at serious risk of harm.
Read More »Tips for When Caseworkers are Knocking at Your Door
Child protective services is responsible for ensuring the safety of all children in the state. With that duty in mind, unannounced home visits are sometimes necessary,
Read More »Can I Surrender My Parental Rights?
A parent’s parental rights are inherent, but they can be terminated voluntarily or involuntarily by court order.
Read More »Parental Right Termination and Adoption
When the court has decided that reunification with the child’s natural parent is not in the child’s best interests, it may take action to terminate that parent’s rights so the child can be adopted. This decision isn’t taken lightly.
Read More »Parents and Substance Abuse: What CPS Can Require You to Do
When a parent’s substance abuse is identified as one of the factors that contributed to the abuse or neglect, the DCP&P and/or the court can require the parent to complete certain steps.
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