DCF can either support or unsupported the allegation. The unsupported report means that DCF found that there is no evidence indicating that the children were abused or neglected. A supported report means that DCF believes that there is evidence tending to show that the child or children were abuse or neglected; or at risk for […]

A basic estate plan usually consists of Wills, typically one for each spouse, a Power of Attorney, again one for each spouse, a Durable Power of Attorney and the Healthcare Proxy, one for each spouse. The costs varies significantly between what the attorney’s charges for this. It can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars […]

A 51A is an allegation of neglect or abuse. If the report describes an emergency, DCF may present the 51A to the judge and obtain permission to take your child or children away from you without notifying you beforehand. However, if this emergency procedure is used, you may not hear about the 51A until after […]

The answer to that questions is no. There is a lot that DCF can consider doing; including, asking you to sign a Voluntary Placement Agreement, but the most typical situation is that DCF will ask for “Family Assessment” and that Family Assessment is used to determine whether or not the family needs services and working […]

The Fault Statute of Massachusetts G.L. Ch. 208, Section 1 is that the courts are authorized in specific fault situations of adultery, impotence, deserting for one (1) year, gross and confirmed habits of intoxication caused by voluntary in excessive use of liquor, opium or other drugs, cruel and abusive treatment, imprisonment. Those are what is […]

You can file an appeal and ask for something called a “Fair Hearing”. This is where you can contest DCF’s decision; and what will occur, is that it is an administrative hearing, where the hearing officer, who is not part of the case, will listen to what DCF says and what you say, and then […]

A 51A becomes either supported or unsupported. Unsupported means that DCF found that there is not any evidence If the report is supported, DCF could try and take custody of your child or children; or they may just want to offer services to your family. Other times DCF might try and ask that you voluntarily […]

The answer to that questions is, you are not. You do not have to let them into your home. You do not have to participate in the investigation. However, that at times can have a risk of backfiring, if DCF thinks that your child is in immediate danger. They can try to get the police […]

Under the law, DCF has to provide appropriate services to strengthen the families if the 51A is supported. This is the case whether the children are in your home or even placed out of the home; and services can include a wide variety of things; including counseling for you and your children; daycare; in-home services; […]

Again, having an attorney even in the very early stages, can really help the situation, but some of the things you might want to do if you are not going to be able to have an attorney is ask what the specific charges or allegations are; take notes; you want to stay on the topic […]