Care & Protection
The legal field of care and protection is concerned with safeguarding children from abuse, neglect, and other risks to their well-being. When caseworkers from the Department of Communities and Justice (formerly the Department of Family and Community Services) get in touch with you, it's usually because someone has reported that your child is in danger of serious harm and that they need to look into the claims in order to make sure the child is safe.
“Whereas the Family Court usually deals with private disputes between families, the care and protection jurisdiction usually deals with disputes between the state and the family”
Even while this may be done with good intentions, there are instances where the accusations made in the reports are incorrect and severe measures are implemented to the point that families experience stress and division. It is crucial that you get legal counsel right away during these trying times and hire a lawyer to assist you in navigating Family Court.
It is important to note that care and protection matters in Family Court are different from family law matters that are heard in Supreme Court or Family Court in New York. That said, there are situations where both types of proceedings may be running at the same time.
