Legal
Appeals, Hearings, and Other Terms
The Appeals Process An appeal is the biological parent’s effort to overturn the Court’s decision, typically on termination of parental rights. The appeal is usually heard by a single justice or panel at the Appeals Court, which is the middle tier of the court system in Massachusetts. You can reasonably expect an appeal to add…
Read MoreThe Role of Foster Parents in Court
The foster parent is not a party to the case, meaning the foster parent has no right to participate directly in it through an attorney. The foster parent may, however, be a witness in the case, called by DCF’s or the child’s attorney. By statute, foster parents have some limited rights: to notice of any…
Read MoreThe Court Process
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Many people are surprised to learn about the intricate link between the child welfare and Juvenile Court systems in Massachusetts. While DCF often removes children from their custodial parents on an emergency basis without court involvement, before a parent can be deprived of custody of their child…
Read MoreThe Legal System in MA: Who’s Who?
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Many people are surprised to learn about the intricate link between the child welfare and Juvenile Court systems in Massachusetts. So Many Attorneys There is typically no shortage of attorneys involved in a DCF case: parents’ attorneys, children’s attorneys, and DCF attorneys. You will notice that there…
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