When Do I Need a Lawyer for My CPS Case?

Children’s Protective Services (CPS) Defense in Michigan

Children’s Protective Services (CPS) is a government agency. It is part of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It is the agency that investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect.  

CPS can be very demanding and act like bullies. They don’t necessarily care about you or your family. Normally, they are not your friend. This is why you need a knowledgeable attorney to help you and guide you through any dealings with CPS.

A highly experienced CPS defense attorney from The Kronzek Firm can explain the process of going through a CPS investigation and can advise you on how to best protect your family.

When the Situation Spirals Out of Control

CPS often uses intimidation as their main tactic. They also like to put a wedge between spouses. It’s part of the divide and conquer mentality. We often recommend that don’t given in to any of the threats CPS makes without consulting with a highly experienced CPS defense attorney first.

We have seen many parents give in to CPS’s demands, such as “required services”. These can include substance abuse treatment or parenting classes. When a parent inevitably misses a class or a session, then CPS uses this against the parents, using “non-cooperation” as the offense.

CPS then proceeds through the court system sometimes even asking the judge to have their parental rights terminated, even though the parent was already doing all they could just to keep their family together.

Oftentimes, removing a child from the family is detrimental to both the parents and the child or children involved. Scientific studies repeatedly show the harm to children and to families when they are torn apart.

Getting in touch with an expert CPS defense lawyer right at the very beginning of your contact with CPS is the best way to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. Hiring an attorney can also put a protective barrier between you and CPS.

We recommend that your CPS lawyer place themselves between you and CPS. Our highly respected CPS attorneys have extensive experience in preventing bullying tactics  from CPS. We can help you.

If You’re a Parent, You Need Someone on Your Side

If you are a parent involved with a CPS investigation, you should know that CPS is not on your side. Actually, you will likely have multiple forces against you: not just CPS, but the assistant prosecutor representing CPS, and (in the case of criminal charges) the criminal prosecutor as well. You need a friend in this fight with you. The Kronzek firm attorneys have won this battle many times, all over Michigan.

Participating in the CPS case or investigation will also be the Legal Guardian Ad-Litem (LGAL) or Guardian Ad-Litem (GAL). This individual will be appointed to recommend the best interests of the child. Most of the time, the LGAL or GAL will simply agree with whatever the CPS workers suggest. In our experience with CPS cases, we find that the LGAL or GAL believes their role is to protect the CPS worker rather than the child and advocate for the position taken by CPS.

A CPS case will put a lot at risk for you and your family. This, combined with the fact that there will be so many forces against you, makes it of crucial importance for you to find an expert CPS defense attorney. The sooner you lawyer up, the better. You should not think that hiring an attorney will make you look guilty. The Kronzek Firm has represented CPS workers, lawyers, doctors and other professionals over the decades. Smart people, experienced professionals and hundreds of others trust our CPS defense team.

Fighting Child Abuse and Neglect Allegations is Very Complicated

Another reason that it will be so vital for you to hire an experienced CPS defense attorney is because child abuse/neglect allegations will become very complicated.

One of the primary reasons is because you will likely be facing both civil and criminal charges. This is because the CPS case will be a civil case, while the child abuse/neglect case will be a criminal one.

CPS cases here in Michigan can also become complicated because these cases have their own unique terminology and procedures. An attorney who is not experienced with CPS cases will likely not be familiar with how a CPS case is typically run. This means that you will be at a clear disadvantage if you do not hire an attorney who has decades of experience.

On a similar note, we strongly advise against parents trying to defend themselves. As a parent going through a CPS case, you will certainly have enough stress and challenges to deal with already, you should not add defending yourself by yourself to the list. Not only that, but most parents don’t have the legal knowledge and background to know all of their rights and responsibilities in a CPS case. Your best option will certainly be to have an aggressive and seasoned CPS defense attorney on your side.

Your Child Protective Services Defense Attorneys

In total, our attorneys at The Kronzek Firm PLC have over 80 years of experience. In this time, we have defended countless parents and families facing allegations of child abuse or child neglect. We have also seen through a great number of successful outcomes, allowing our clients to reunify with their families all over the lower peninsula of Michigan.

If you think you might be facing a CPS investigation or a criminal child abuse case, don’t waste any time. Contact an experienced CPS defense attorney right away to discuss next steps.

Contact us today about your CPS case: 1-866-766-5245.