You might not have seen it coming because you thought DCF was closing their case. Or maybe you anticipated it because DCF was upset that you didn’t follow their recommendations and now they want you to answer to a judge.
Here you are: You have been served with a Connecticut DCF Neglect Petition and summoned to Connecticut Juvenile Court.
It looks like this: DCF Neglect Petition.
The second page of the Neglect Petition will set forth the date and time for your initial court appearance and the address of the Juvenile Court. You should have a lawyer for this appearance.
If you cannot afford an attorney you should immediately apply for court-appointed counsel at the Clerk’s Office where your case is pending. Do this before your court appearance.
In my experience, the best approach is to consult with an attorney at the earliest possible stage. An experienced DCF lawyer will be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case, assist you in gathering relevant documents and help you put together a list of witnesses who support your version of events and explore possible defenses to the DCF allegations.
Your best chance for a favorable outcome is to meet this Neglect Petition head on. Waiting for DCF to reconsider and change direction isn’t a winning strategy.
So whether you were blindsided by DCF or expected the Neglect Petition its time to construct a game plan.
Please email me or call (203) 259-5251 to discuss a DCF Neglect Petition in Connecticut.