Tampa, Florida, Dependency Attorney
If an official from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has taken your child from your home, you need to take immediate action to preserve your rights and reestablish your parental role as quickly as possible.
At the Law Offices of Kuske & Ragano, P.A. in Tampa, our family law attorneys represent parents in juvenile dependency proceedings and work to reunite them with their children. If you would like to speak with one of our lawyers, please contact our Tampa office.
Child abuse, neglect, drug use in the presence of children
Under Chapter 39, an accusation by a neighbor, an estranged spouse or any other party of child abuse, child neglect or drug use in the presence of children may result in removal of the children from the home. DCF has removed children from their home because of mold in the refrigerator, or because a neighbor reported that children were left in the car with the motor running. DCF will place the children in shelter care until the court, within 24 hours, holds a shelter hearing.
24 hours to prepare for the shelter hearing
If DCF removed your child from your care, it is important to act quickly. At a shelter hearing, held within the next 24 hours, you will have the right to present evidence and be heard. The court will determine whether shelter care is in the best interests of your child. It is important to be represented by an attorney with experience in dependency proceedings.
Within a few more days, if your child is in out-of-home placement, the court will have an arraignment hearing. If your child is placed in foster care or with a relative, you will be given a case plan that explains what you must do to get your child back, and what visitation you are entitled to. The DCF case plan might include requirements for counseling and drug tests.
One family, one judge
A DCF dependency action often is only one issue that a family is addressing. It is not unusual for the same family to be involved in divorce proceedings, Chapter 39 involuntary commitment, termination of parental rights, accusations of domestic violence, charges of juvenile delinquency and financial problems.
Florida law allows a family to petition to have all administrative law matters handled by a single judge. Our lawyers have had excellent success in these "one-family, one-judge" petitions, helping our clients resolve issues in an efficient and reasonable manner.
Contact a dependency lawyer at the Law Offices of Kuske & Ragano, P.A. today to learn more about how we can help you with your legal situation. Our offices are conveniently located in downtown Tampa, five minutes from the Hillsborough County Courthouse. We fight aggressively for our clients' parental rights and the welfare of their children.
