Having your parental rights terminated is one of the scariest and most heartbreaking scenarios that any parent could ever encounter. It’s also one of the most confusing because the law surrounding termination law is very complex and most people (and lots of attorneys) are unsure of the process and what is involved. For that reason, our expert CPS defense team has assembled some of the more common questions that people ask us, and we’ve tried to provide some standard answers to those questions.

Hopefully this will help you understand the process a little more. However, because every case is different, it is very important that you meet with an attorney that specializes in Michigan CPS defense as soon as you become involved with Children’s Protective Services.

Can the state really take my child forever?

Yes they can. Incredible as it may sound, the law allows the state to sometimes permanently remove your child from your custody if they believe that you are not parenting them properly. The process begins when CPS begins an investigation for abuse or neglect of a child and continues when a Children’s Protective Services worker contacts the family. As soon as that happens, the parents should be alarmed.

Is there anything I can do to get my child back?

If your child has been removed from your care by CPS and a petition has been filed with the court asking the court to take jurisdiction over your family which might have your parental rights terminated, you have the right to hire an experienced CPS defense attorney and fight for your children. Hiring an attorney should happen as soon as the family is aware that CPS is involved.

Is there a time limit on appealing the court’s decision?

Yes there is. Which is why we encourage all parents who have recently lost their children to the state, to contact us immediately. The clock is ticking and the appeals process is time consuming, so the sooner you have an experienced attorney working to appeal a termination of parental rights, the better.

Join us next time as we continue to address some of the more common concerns surrounding the termination of parental rights, and answer some of your questions.