NEW YORK CITY ACS DEFENSE LAWYER

When ACS workers do not have enough evidence to take parents to Family Court and accuse them of neglect, they file a case with the OCFS, The New York Office of Children and Family Services. Here are the basic steps in that process. 1. The parent is given a letter with a case number, indicating that a case has been open. The letter states the agency has 60 days to investigate. This is not true. ACS will keep cases going as long as they want. 2. The parent will then be sent another letter stating that they have been, "indicated" for child abuse. They are then given instructions how to have a hearing. 3. A preliminary conference is held before a judge. A hearing will then be scheduled. 4. A hearing will take place. The judge issues a written decision in about three weeks. This is not a process parents should go through alone. Most at risk are parents who have jobs in the medical or child care field. Retain an attorney as soon as you have been notified that there is a...