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DSS and Danger

Question: Dear Cape Fear Family Law: The Department of Social Services (DSS) contacted me about my child. They asked me questions and told me there was a report made. They won’t tell me a lot, but I realize that my daughter is in danger while living with her mom. ...
August 4, 2014

 

Question:

Dear Cape Fear Family Law:

The Department of Social Services (DSS) contacted me about my child.  They asked me questions and told me there was a report made.  They won’t tell me a lot, but I realize that my daughter is in danger while living with her mom.  What should I do?

-DSS and Danger

 

Answer:

Dear DSS and Danger:

First, you may want to have an attorney consult with you immediately on the investigation with DSS if that is still ongoing.  Next, you may want to immediately file child custody if your child is truly in danger.  I have found that waiting is rarely the best thing to do if you have facts, evidence, or information that shows your child is in danger.  If there is a substance abuse problem, your attorney can request drug testing.  You should immediately take action to place your child in a safe setting.  Best of luck and much safety to your child.

 

 

The response posted above is based upon the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with an attorney, fully explain your situation, and allow the attorney sufficient opportunity to research the applicable law and facts required to render an accurate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full discussion with an attorney should be undertaken before taking any action. The information above is available for public viewing and is not intended to create an attorney client relationship with any individual. This answer is provided for informational purposes only, a person should consult with their own individual legal counsel before taking any action that could affect their legal rights or obligations.

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Janet Gemmell
Practicing law for over 20 years may have caused Janet some gray hairs, but she remains young at heart, probably because she loves what she does. Janet's focus is to work with clients building new lives after relationship turmoil and although it is hard work, she finds it utterly rewarding. Such work and experiences gives Janet a ton of insight and along with her legal knowledge (afterall she is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist) she is able to get to the heart of any legal matter quickly in order to start helping clients find resolutions and to get their lives back on track.

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