A very difficult decision is in a DCF case that is going before a judge whether a parent should testify or not, or if there is criminal case investigation. Parents do have a 5th Amendment right to prevent testifying if they could potentially incriminate themselves. Criminal defense attorney would strongly recommend that the parents do […]

There are Standing Orders, including Standing Order 2-11, that the court can be allowed to use information from DCF. What can happen is, in many times if custody or visitation is before a Probate and Family Court Judge, there is awareness that either you want to bring up; or the other parent or another party […]

You can file something called a “contempt” action saying that the other side has violated the court order. You need to show what the court order is and how it was violated. There are technical requirements but the order should be clear and the violation should be straightforward. The court has a lot of remedies […]

Client information records is something that DCF keeps; particularly when it is related to a child that is in a care and custody matter of DCF. There is also information in something that is called the “Central Registry”. This is where it is confirmed the alleged victims of child abuse or neglect. Examples of some […]

In DCF cases with a 51A and 51B investigation there are some time periods that are needing to be looked at. For the 51A’s, if they are “Screened Out” it means that there is no further investigation and some of the time DCF decides that it is not warranted of DCF involvement if the allegations […]

A CRA can be dismissed if the goals of the CRA have been met; 390 days from the date of when the case resolves. When a child turns a certain age (if truant or school offender CRA) it will be 16 years old and it will be 18 years old for the other CRA’s; or […]

The parent or guardian has the right to attend all court hearings. They have a right to be represented by an attorney at any court hearing. If the Judge considers ordering custody to someone other than the parent where the court can appoint one for the parent or guardian, if the parent or guardian cannot […]

For DCF to get emergency temporary custody of a child, DCF needs to go to Juvenile Court with an Affidavit; which is a statement under oath usually by a DCF worker and the supervisor telling the Judge why DCF believes that it is necessary to remove the child(ren) from the custody of his/her parent or […]

If the parents are never married, who has physical and legal custody? In Massachusetts if the parents are not married the mother has sole physical and legal custody. This means that the father would need to go to court to get a court order to have joint or his own sole physical or own sole […]

Massachusetts does not set a specific age in which a child can be left home alone. In Massachusetts, it is decided on a case by case basis. The Mass. General Laws Ch. 119, Section 39: an abandonment of a child under the age of 10 is 110 CMR 2.00; which defines neglect. Part of this […]