Child Protective Services (CPS) is an important agency that strives to protect children who may be in danger. While what they do is sometimes necessary, it can be terrifying if they are performing an investigation on you. If you are in this situation, keep in mind that the CPS investigators are just regular people doing their job, which means they could make mistakes. Since the consequences of an unfavorable investigation can be devastating to you and your children, it is important to make sure you handle the situation perfectly. Read through the following five key things that you need to know so you can have a positive outcome.
Take it Seriously
No matter what type of parent you are, it is always important that you take a CPS investigation seriously. Even if you believe you have done absolutely nothing wrong, CPS can still cause a lot of problems based on what they find. Because of this, you need to take any CPS investigation seriously and handle it properly to avoid any complications.
Avoid Legal Problems
While it is always important to follow the law and stay out of trouble, it is especially critical while a CPS investigation is ongoing. Avoid getting arrested, even for things unrelated to your children. Specifically, do not drive after having even a little bit to drink, make sure you are current on child support payments, and do not keep any illegal substances in your home or your possession. Any type of arrest will look bad to CPS and can have a negative impact on their investigation.
Understand the Outcome
When CPS investigates a situation, they will often make an administrative finding, which is not the same as showing that you are guilty. Even if they say that it is more likely than not that you abused or neglected your child, there is no reason to lose hope. You have the right to appeal their administrative findings, and even fight the findings in court.
Shut Down Your Social Media
Most people today like to share just about every aspect of their life with friends, family, and followers on social media. While you will undoubtedly be tempted to vent about the CPS investigation, this would be a huge mistake. You can expect that part of the investigation will involve looking at your social media accounts. With this in mind, you should not only avoid posting new information on social media, but you should also shut down your existing accounts, so they are no longer public. Even if you do not think any of your previous posts would cause problems, it is always safer to give CPS as little information as possible in this regard.
Always have an Attorney Present
If someone from CPS wants to talk to you, make sure you insist on having your attorney there with you. Make sure you are polite, but firm, when telling them that you will not answer any questions without your lawyer. Whether the investigation is just getting started, or it has been going on for a while, call the Law Offices of Mackenzie Sorich to discuss your situation and get experienced representation today.