Caring and Experienced — Attorney Margaret E. Donnelly
Protecting Your Rights When Child Protective Services is Involved
Have you been contacted by your local Child Protective Services agency? Have you been notified that you were named in a report of child abuse? When reports of child abuse or maltreatment are made with Child Protective Services, an investigation will be immediately launched. The results of this investigation can have a lasting impact on your future.
New York takes every report or allegation of child abuse or neglect seriously — even if the report of abuse was driven by false accusations or underlying motives in a uncontested divorce or child custody dispute. The law office of Margaret E. Donnelly, Esq., Attorney at Law, can help you protect your interests. Call 518.477.6230 or contact the office by e-mail to schedule a consultation to discuss your rights.
Child Protection Investigations
Once a report of suspected child abuse is made to Child Protective Services (CPS), the local Child Protective Services agency is required to investigate the situation. A CPS investigation can take up to 60 days, during which your family may be exposed to the scrutiny of the official conducting the investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation, the report will either be indicated or unfounded. If the CPS investigator believes there is some evidence that the child has been abused or neglected, the report will be indicated and the parent or guardian's name will be placed on the state's child abuse registry (the New York Central Registry for Child Abuse and Maltreatment) — even before the parent can contest the issue in a fair hearing.
Being listed in the child abuse registry is a serious matter. Reports of maltreatment and child abuse stay on your record for 10 years beyond the youngest child's 18th birthday. This will show up in a background check for employment, adoption, and foster care certification. Protect your rights. Seek legal advice as soon as you become aware of any report of abuse or pending CPS investigation against you.
Experienced Attorney on Your Side
Attorney Margaret E. Donnelly is a former contract Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Children and Family Services. In this capacity, she has conducted fair hearings on New York Central Registry for Child Abuse and Maltreatment. This gives her the life experience as well as courtroom experience necessary to handle these challenging hearings. After successfully challenging investigation results, she requests a hearing to have your name formally removed from the registry.
Know the Law ∙ Know Your Rights
Allowing another person to abuse or maltreat your child is also considered abuse. Therefore, if you have been contacted by Child Protective Services regarding a child protection hearing or related matter, discuss the issue immediately with a lawyer.
Contact the offices of Attorney Margaret Donnelly, Esq. Attorney at Law about your legal matter today. The firm represents clients throughout the Capital District, Albany and Columbia County.
