Understanding Juvenile Dependency
When allegations arise involving child abuse, neglect, or abandonment, the case enters the Juvenile Dependency Court system—a complex and emotionally charged legal process. The court's role is to ensure the child's safety and well-being while balancing the rights of the parents or guardians. These cases can move quickly and involve multiple hearings, social workers, and legal standards that are difficult to navigate alone. Having an experienced juvenile dependency attorney is critical. A knowledgeable attorney can advocate for your rights, help you understand the process, and work toward reunifying your family whenever possible. Whether you are a parent, relative, or caregiver, having the right legal support can make all the difference in protecting your relationship with the child involved.
Areas of Juvenile Dependency We Can Help With
Our office is able to help with all matters around a Juvenile Dependency case, some of these include:
Child Protective Services (CPS) Involvement
If CPS has contacted you to investigate allegations of abuse, we can help you understand your rights, respond effectively, and advocate for your family’s reunification.
Detention Hearings
If your child has been removed from your home, a detention hearing will be held. At this hearing, you will receive a copy of the allegations filed by the department. We represent parents, guardians, and relatives at initial hearings where the court decides whether a child will remain in protective custody or return home.
Jurisdiction and Disposition Hearings
At the Jurisdiction hearing, the Court will decide whether the allegations filed by CPS are true or false. If those allegations are found to be true, your next hearing will be a disposition hearing. This is where the court will decide what the plan will be for your family's future. Our office defends against allegations of abuse or neglect and helps develop case plans that work toward keeping families together.
Reunification Services
We guide parents through their court-ordered case plans, ensuring they receive the services they need to regain custody of their children. It is equally important to ensure your case plan is specifically tailored to you and your needs and that unnecessary plans are not ordered.
De Facto Parent Status
If you have been or are currently assuming a parental role, you may be able to seek de facto parent status which provides legal standing in the case. We can help you obtain such status and subsequently represent your legal interests in court.
Relative and Non-Relative Caregiver Representation
Whether you’re a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or close family friend, we help caregivers secure placements of and visitation with the child.
Foster Parent Rights
Foster parents are often able to provide valuable information regarding the current needs of the child. They are privy to information that the other parties involved in the court's process do not have. We help ensure you are heard and respected in the courtroom and in placement decisions.
Retaining Counsel
Navigating the Juvenile Dependency system can be one of the most emotional and challenging experiences a family faces. Having skilled legal counsel is not just helpful—it’s essential. Our office is committed to guiding you through every stage of the process with clarity, compassion, and determination. We understand what’s at stake, and we work tirelessly to protect your rights and reunify your family whenever possible. Managing Attorney Taryn Scharf brings a strong, aggressive approach to both in-court advocacy and out-of-court negotiations, ensuring that your voice is heard and your case is presented with the strength it deserves. When your family’s future is on the line, you don’t have to face it alone, we’re here to stand by you every step of the way.
