Miami Dependency Defense Attorney

Let Our Firm Protect Your Parental Rights

Parents have the right to raise their children and courts throughout the United States recognize how important parents are in their children’s lives. However, there are certain situations that may cause the court to terminate a person’s parental rights. When Florida Child Protective Services (CPS) removes your child from your home and you are summoned to a dependency hearing, this experience can be traumatizing and emotionally overwhelming. Having an experienced attorney on your side can help you get your child back.

If you have been accused of child abuse or neglect in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, The Hoffman Firm can either help you avoid having your child removed by the Florida Department of Children and Families or guide you through the rehabilitation and reunification process. Our Miami dependency defense lawyer can work closely with CPS officials and protect you and your child’s rights and best interests.

Schedule your free consultation by calling 305-249-0090, if your case is in Miami. If your case is in Broward County, please call 954-524-4474. In all cases you can reach us by filling out a contact form.

Termination of Parental Rights in Florida

When a child is born, the parents have specific rights to provide care for the child. Although the courts typically defer to parents, allowing them to exercise their rights, courts can also intervene and even terminate parental rights under certain circumstances.

The following are grounds in which parental rights can be terminated:

• Voluntary surrender by a parent
• Abandonment of the child
• The well-being of the child is threatened
• Incarceration of parent
• The child is an adjudicated dependent
• Egregious conduct of parent
• Termination of parental rights of other children
• Adoption of the child
• Incapacitation of parent

The process of terminating parental rights starts with filing a petition, which needs to include certain facts, such as the reason for the termination of parental rights. A court hearing will be held, allowing each party to present their evidence and testimony before a judge makes a decision.

Dependency Proceedings

Prior to the termination of parental rights and after CPS removes the child from the family home, parents have an opportunity to fix the issue causing abuse, neglect, or abandonment of their child and ultimately reunite with the child through dependency proceedings. This legal process can take a few months or a couple of years, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The goal of a dependency proceeding is remediation and reunification. However, if the parenting issues are not resolved, a hearing to terminate parental rights will be scheduled, rather than reunification. Furthermore, if the conduct against the child was so egregious and reckless in nature, the court may hold a termination of parental rights hearing right away, instead of remediation.

Ready to Help Parents in Miami and Fort Lauderdale

Getting your parental rights terminated is extremely difficult to reverse. If you believe your parental rights are in jeopardy, our Miami dependency defense attorney will do whatever it takes to preserve your parental rights and ensure you continue raising your child. The sooner you reach out to our firm, the better your chances are of maintaining your parental rights.

For more information about your legal options, contact us today to discuss your case.