This is the next post in our series on the handling of emergency child custody cases in Little Rock, Arkansas. Our last article discussed false claims which arise in child custody cases. It is important to understand that parents, who make false claims, may have their time with the child reduced as a result. How the Court will rule in any given situation, however, is always going to depend on the specific facts of the case. If you are the victim of false accusations then it is imperative that you contact an attorney immediately. In this article we will discuss another important topic – when parents should contact Child Protective Services. If you are in need of assistance then contact our office today to speak with a lawyer.
If you believe that your son or daughter’s physical well-being is in immediate jeopardy, meaning that they will suffer harm in short order, then you should contact the police immediately. Contacting the police is appropriate when the harm will occur before a non-emergency response entity can take action. If you believe that the child’s well-being is in danger, but that harm is not imminent, then it may be more appropriate to contact Child Protective Services. Examples of such situations can include a parent failing to adequately feed and provide for a child, a parent regularly abusing drugs, or other conduct that is detrimental to the child. CPS will investigate any report they receive and decide whether or not to take action on the matter.
It is important to understand that CPS claims are only to be made in instances where the child’s well-being is truly at risk. It is not appropriate to make claims to the agency simply because you disagree with your counterpart’s parenting choices. It is generally suggested, if time permits, that you discuss your situation with a family law attorney before filing any claims with Child Protective Services. Doing so can help to protect you against accusations that you are filing false claims with the agency. This, in turn, can help to avoid problems with the Court. Our Little Rock child custody attorneys are able to assist with such matters. If you have questions about your situation then contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation.
We also handle matters in Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, Rogers, Pine Bluff and throughout the rest of Arkansas.