Child in Need of Aid

Child Protective Services Cases

It is extremely important to contact an attorney immediately if you are accused of child abuse or neglect. Child protective services cases, also called "child in need of aid" or child dependency cases, involve serious allegations by the State of Alaska, Office of Children Services (OCS "formerly DFYS"). You risk losing the custody of your children if you fail to defend yourself against allegations made by a social worker.

When you face a hearing involving the OCS, contact an attorney at Kenneth Kirk & Associates, in Anchorage, Alaska. Our law firm defends parents and grandparents against unsubstantiated charges. The legal services we provide will ensure your side of the story is heard at a child-in-need-of-aid hearing.

Child protective services cases catch many people off guard. Before attending a probable cause or temporary placement hearing, you need to speak to one of our lawyers. At these hearings, the state may exert strong pressure on you to agree to its terms. It is rarely a good idea to agree to probable cause at a hearing. You can request that the judge postpone the hearing in order for you to get the assistance of counsel.

Our firm will make sure to put forward an aggressive, yet balanced, approach in your defense. You need an attorney who will neither back down nor come across as overly aggressive. The best approach in child protective services cases is to foster workable relationships with social service's personnel, while at the same time taking a firm position in court to attempt to get the children back where they belong. At  Kenneth Kirk & Associates, we know how to work with the system to get your children back home.

It is important to deal with child protective services proactively. The sooner we get you dealing purposefully with OCS and the judge, the faster we will resolve your case. If that means dealing with alcohol or drug issues, we recommend you begin immediately. We will also make sure that OCS expedites the resolution of your case, since OCS cases can sometimes drag on for years. Delays in dealing with major issues can have serious effects on your case's resolution.

We will work with you to make sure OCS hears your side of the story. We will fight against unreasonable demands, working with social workers to reunite you with your children.

To find out more about child protective services, contact Law Offices Of Kenneth Kirk & Associates today. We represent people throughout Alaska, including clients in the Matanuska Valley.