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Essex County Child Abuse & Neglect Lawyer

We Handle Complex Family Violence Cases, Restraining Orders & DCPP Cases

Legal cases in Essex County involving child abuse or neglect often quickly turn into very complicated legal matters. Very often the New Jersey Department of Children and Families or the Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) will quickly get involved and investigate what happened.

When an Essex County child abuse investigation starts, it’s critical that you act fast. Don’t simply assume that everything will turn out fine because you didn’t do anything wrong. You need to make sure you take steps to protect your rights.

Child Abuse Cases We Handle In Essex County

Our Essex County law firm handles a wide range of child abuse and neglect cases in West Orange, Montclair and other communities in Essex County, including cases involving:

DCPP child abuse investigations, which often involve a DCPP caseworker investigating allegations of child abuse made by another parent or anyone else, including a teacher, doctor or neighbor.
Child protection orders, which often result in a court-ordered investigation to determine if a child is being abused or neglected and should be removed from a parent’s home or another living situation.
Termination of parental rights cases, which could result in a parent no longer being able to have contact with their children and not be allowed to make legal decisions concerning their child.
Guardianship and kinship legal guardianship cases, which often concern who has the legal right to be responsible for the welfare and upbringing of a child, often in place of a parent.

This is just a small sampling of some of the child abuse or neglect cases we frequently deal with at our Essex County law firm. Whatever legal challenge you’re facing, we’re here to help you get your life back on track.

Dealing With Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) In Essex County

A DCPP child abuse investigation in Essex County can be very disruptive, time consuming and can have a huge impact on your life. Once someone claims a child is being abused, the DCPP must start investigating that claim within 24 hours. As a result, a DCPP caseworker from the Essex County office in Newark could show up at your apartment or house without any notice.

The DCPP is not required to notify parents that the state agency is investigating a child abuse or neglect claim. These investigations can last up to 60 to 90 days. You should also be prepared for DCPP investigators to interview other family members, friends, teachers, doctors and anyone else who has contact with your child.

Our Essex County DCPP lawyers have years of experience dealing directly with this large, complicated state agency. As a result, we know how to navigate our way through this system and how to respond to a DCPP investigation. Such experience is critical in these situations since the stakes are so high and because you often need to respond so fast to protect your rights.

Which Essex County Court Handles Child Abuse Cases?

If a child abuse case in New Jersey makes it to court, the case will likely be heard by a family court judge in a New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part. These courts are organized geographically on a countywide level in New Jersey. In Essex County, the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part Court is located in Newark.

Often, a DCPP child abuse investigation will result in a case going to court. This is because the level of proof required by the state to “prove” that a child was neglected or abused is quite low. Even so, the impact on your life back be significant.

And while you can appeal these court decisions with the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, doing so can be a very complicated legal process. Our dedicated Essex County child abuse attorneys have years of courtroom experience. As a result, we know what to expect and how to respond effectively on your behalf in court. Experience matters.

What Makes Child Abuse Cases So Complicated?

Several factors often make child abuse or neglect cases in Essex County so complex, including:

Unexpected nature of DCPP child abuse investigations, which can be initiated by anyone without warning.
Dealing with a large state agency like the DCPP can be overwhelming and confusing, especially since there might be several people involved in your investigation beyond the DCPP caseworker investigating your child abuse or neglect allegation.
Legal issues involved in such cases are so important, including the possibility of your parental rights being terminated, which could result in you not being able to see your children or not be able to make important legal decisions about your child’s welfare.

Why You Should Choose Our Essex County Law Firm

The last thing you probably need to deal with right now is a child abuse or neglect investigation. That’s why our Essex County child abuse lawyers want to help. We know how to deal with the DCPP. We have extensive experience dealing with cases in the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part.

Our law firm’s founding attorney, Allison C. Williams, wrote the book, “How to Combat False Allegations of Neglect and Abuse.” As a result, we know that many people are often falsely accused of child abuse or neglect in Essex County or throughout New Jersey.

Experience matters. And so does your case. Learn more about how we can help you with your DCPP investigation or child abuse court case in Essex County. Contact us and schedule an appointment at our Short Hills, New Jersey office today.

Williams Law Group, LLC – you can count on us when it matters most.