Friday, October 25, 2013

DCPP allegations can impact your child custody case

While DCPP does not act on every allegation they receive, that does not mean that divorcing couples cannot use those allegations to bring their own action. Sometimes a parent will use those allegations as a basis to file a motion to restrict parenting time, even if the DCPP is not investigating the case. Because of this, most people hire a New Jersey attorney who may be experienced in family law, but knows nothing when it comes to DCPP allegations and investigations. Not having an attorney who is well-versed in these situations could possibly do a lot of damage to your case.

To help keep costs down, it is in your best interest to find an attorney who is experienced in both child custody cases as well as DCPP investigations. At the Law Offices of Jef Henninger, Esq., our Ocean County DCPP lawyers have also handled numerous child custody cases throughout New Jersey. To see what we can do for you, contact us through our 24/7 hotline at 732-773-2768 to begin work on your case today!

Does DCPP have to follow the rules even if the case is not in court?

Please note that this blog post is the opinion of the DCPP attorneys at our law firm. Even though there are laws and internal policies that the DCPP has to follow, it does not mean that they always will. For example, people sometimes assume due to information that they read on the internet, that the investigation from the DCPP has to be completed within 60 days. However, this is not always the case. The internet has made things difficult for attorneys since the information online is usually generalized, and you are only getting some of the information. Sometimes that information can be totally wrong!

The best and surest way to make sure the DCPP investigation has stopped and the case is closed is to call an experienced attorney. While plenty of people have made DCPP go away without the aid of a lawyer, there are also plenty of people who have hurt their case by trying to handle it themselves. This usually has those individuals end up in court, pay expensive legal fees and risk losing their parental rights. Rather than roll the dice, it is a good idea to go over your case with a DCPP lawyer.

At the Law Offices of Jef Henninger, Esq., our Ocean County DCPP attorneys go over all the details of your DCPP case and give you an accurate assessment of what is to come and proper steps moving forward. Call our 24/7 hotline at 732-773-2768 to discuss your case and to see how we can help make sure you do not go to court.

Common Questions with DCPP Investigations

At the Law Offices of Jef Henninger, Esq., our Ocean County DCPP attorneys get tons of calls each day about people dealing with DCPP investigations, DCPP in their life, DCPP just left the house, I got a call from DCPP, etc. etc. No matter what the situation, or whatever you want to call it, DCPP is bothering you, the case is not in court and you are not sure of the best way to move forward. In order to help you make the right choice, our DCPP lawyers have put together some of the frequently asked questions they get asked almost every single day.

1. Will getting an attorney upset DCPP and cause more problems?

The short answer to this question is no. Our attorneys have helped hundreds upon hundreds of people dealing with the DCPP and were able to help them avoid court. This allowed them to save thousands of dollars in legal costs and didn't have to deal with the nightmare that is a DCPP court case. Hiring a highly skilled DCPP lawyer will only help against the DCPP investigations.

2. Can you guarantee (fill in the blank)?

In our law firm's opinion, it is illegal for attorneys to guarantee you anything. What is more important is the track record of that attorney in regard to DCPP investigations and trials. Our law firm has a clear track record and have proven time and time again that our experience helps clients with their DCPP matters. Hundreds of individuals have trusted us to help them and their families.

3. Do I need a lawyer?

Asking if you "need" an attorney is not the right term to use. The issue is more likely whether or not hiring a lawyer should be done. Our law firm feels that handling any legal matter, not just DCPP issues, without a lawyer is crazy. Even though we are lawyers, we still hire other lawyers to help us with any legal issues we may be personally facing. If lawyers do not handle their own legal issues and represent themselves, why should you?

4. Why should I hire an attorney? I didn't need one last time and/or someone I know didn't need one?

While not everyone that encounters DCPP hires an attorney, some end up just fine while others don't fair as well and wind up in court. Many of our in-court cases could have been kept out of court if they had hired a DCPP attorney right away. At our law firm, almost all of our cases never see the inside of the court room. It is always less risky, and usually less expensive, to get a DCPP attorney as soon as the investigation starts to keep the case out of court and not risk losing your parental rights.

5. Should I comply with DCPP? Do I have to let DCPP into my house? Should I submit to a DCPP substance abuse evaluation? Should I speak to DCPP? Etc.

Even though this is a tough question, DCPP cannot technically force you to do anything. Only the court can force you. However, since every case is different, there is no general, "cookie-cutter" answer. At our law firm, we tell our clients not to do anything unless we notify them to do something. It is important to hire a DCPP attorney to best evaluate your unique situation on how to proceed forward with DCPP.

6. The DCPP has said that the case will be closed; its an easy case; I don't need an attorney; they would take the case to court if I get a lawyer, etc.

Why would you trust anything the DCPP says about your case? Don't you think they could be just a little biased? Our law firm has yet to meet a client that trusts the DCPP and yet believe what they say when it comes to hiring a lawyer.

No matter the situation or the circumstance, it is always in your best interest to speak to a professional DCPP lawyer about your case. At the Law Offices of Jef Henninger, Esq., our Ocean County DCPP lawyers are well-versed in DCPP trials and investigations have successfully represented hundreds of clients in New Jersey with these kinds of cases. To see what our law firm can do for you, call our 24/7 hotline at 732-773-2768 and receive a free initial consultation to discuss your legal options.