On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Thursday, July 23, 2015.
For a lot of parents here in Illinois, you would probably be devastated if someone accused you of treating your children badly. You’d probably become even more overwhelmed if an accusation led to the removal of your children from your custody. If you’re like most people, you’d probably feel frustrated and confused, looking for answers you might not be able to provide on your own because of your minimal legal background.
If a situation such as this sounds terrifying, you wouldn’t be alone in thinking so. Unfortunately, due to many states’ vague reporting laws regarding child abuse and neglect, innocent families can be torn apart when children are removed from their parent’s custody. Oftentimes, in cases like this, parents will seek help from a lawyer because they know it’s not a situation they can handle on their own.
Such is the case right now to our southwest in Missouri where two parents are fighting the state to have their children returned to their custody. Their children were taken, they say, after a pediatrician reported potential child abuse after looking at the X-rays of their infant daughter. The couple tells reporters that her injuries are not from abuse though but rather the result of two recently diagnosed medical conditions.
Cases like this, where children have been removed from their parent’s custody because of child abuse claims, are incredibly challenging because parents in situations such as this oftentimes feel frightened and have no idea what to expect. Parents might not know what a judge needs to see in order to return their children. They might not even know what their rights are in cases like this. With the help of a good lawyer though, parents are better equipped to present evidence that supports their side of the story. Without such representation, parents can ensure that their parental rights are being protected and that they are getting the best chance at seeing their children again.
Source: NBC News, “Mom Who Lost Kids Says Baby’s Medical Condition Mistaken for Abuse,” Susan Donaldson James, July 11, 2015
