There’s been a new development in what’s been a fast-developing story around Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his new order involving transgender children. If you haven’t already heard, Abbott issued a letter that, in the words of the Texas Tribune, “ordered state child...
Child Protective Services (CPS)
Can I get my parental rights reinstated?
Thanks to a new law that’s been passed in the Texas Legislature during the 2021 session, there’s a pathway for people who have lost their parental rights in Texas to get them back. It’s a big deal, because in the past, once your parental rights were terminated, they...
Domestic violence and coronavirus in Bexar County: What to know and what to do
Social distancing in the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t mean you have to live with family violence.
How to challenge a CPS investigation when you’re innocent
In my last article, I discussed some facets of a CPS investigation to keep in mind when you're innocent. It's important, ultimately, to comply with what CPS request in order to protect your parental rights and keep in contact with your children. But as I discussed,...
What to know before dealing with a CPS investigation when you’re innocent
It's a paradox I've seen in my time working on Child Protective Services cases: There are situations in which children really need to be protected in which CPS does nothing, and then there are cases where there are good parents who are doing a good job who are...
What do I do if I’ve been accused of child sexual abuse?
Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrible, unthinkable crimes out there. Most of us rightly know how wrong it is and how potentially damaging it can be. Of course, there's more awareness about it now than ever before. It's not something that just gets swept under...
What do I do when Child Protective Services lets me know I’m under investigation?
The first thing to do, when you're notified by Child Protective Services (CPS), is to remain calm. It's certainly a frightening prospect to lose your children, and that can be the ultimate outcome in some cases, but know that CPS doesn't want to separate a child from...
What factors affect the cost of a Child Protective Services case?
No two Child Protective Services (CPS) cases are the same, so it's hard to conclusively and definitively say how much it will cost you to defend yourself in a CPS case. If your right to parent your child is at risk because of a CPS investigation, you'll certainly want...
How can an attorney help resolve my Child Protective Services case?
Cases involving Child Protective Services (CPS) can obviously be very stressful and overwhelming. They are usually initiated because someone questions the safety of a child or children while around the parent named in the case, and the end result can be that parent...
How does a CPS mediation work?
Mediation is most commonly known as a way to resolve a divorce without using litigation, but it can also be used in cases involving CPS and parental rights. As someone who has mediated a number of these cases, I can say that mediation is often more expedient and less...