Pretrial/Pleas Proceedings of CPS Investigation

Accusations of child abuse or neglect are serious and should be handled proactively, with great care. If CPS is investigating you or a loved one, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Your case will move quickly, so it’s important to bring on legal assistance early on if you want to be successful. The biggest mistake alleged defendants make in child abuse and neglect cases is not taking the charges seriously. You may know you’re innocent, but CPS does not. The worker handling your case will approach the situation assuming you’re guilty. It’s up to you and your CPS attorney to demonstrate your innocence and prove that you are a suitable guardian for your child.

CPS Investigation Pleas

In some cases, it may be in your best interest to make a plea or admission of no contest to the petition. Your attorney will review the details of your case and help you decide whether or not a plea may be beneficially in your unique situation. Before the court accepts your plea, you will be advised on the record of the allegations in the petition and your right to an attorney. If you accept the plea, you will give up the rights to a trial by judge or jury, having the petitioner prove the allegations by preponderance of the evidence, having witnesses against the respondent appear and testify at trial, cross-examination of witnesses, and court subpoena of any witnesses that the respondent believes could provide testimony in his or her favor. You will also be advised that the consequences of a plea may include that the plea can later be used to terminate your parental rights.

Understanding the Stages of a CPS Investigation

When CPS receives a report of child abuse or neglect, they begin investigating the claims as soon as possible. A worker will come to your house, speak with anyone involved in the case, and review all the relevant documents. When the CPS worker has concluded his or her investigation, he or she will make a determination about whether or not the child has been harmed in any way. From there, the claims will either be dropped, or move on to a preliminary hearing where CPS will have to prove that there is probable cause that the child was abused or neglected. It’s extremely helpful to have a defense attorney on your side during the preliminary hearing. He or she will be able to review all of the evidence CPS has and therefore be prepared to put together a successful approach to your defense. If you need legal representation in your child abuse or neglect case, give Grabel & Associates a call. We’re willing to step into your case at any stage and will fight aggressively for you.

After the preliminary hearing, your case will move into the pre-trail stage. During this time, the court and attorneys for both sides will look at how they can facilitate fair and efficient proceedings. As a result, they may some consider the following:

• Simplifying the issues
• The time needed for discovery
• Limiting the number of expert witnesses
• Settlement options
• Mediation options
• Admissions of fact and documents to avoid unneeded proof

Having a skilled attorney battling on your behalf during the pretrial stage of your case will ensure you receive just trial proceedings. Contact the Grabel & Associates team for more information about how we can help you during this crucial stage of your case.

Our Approach to Pretrial/Pleas in Cases Involving CPS

The Grabel & Associates team has worked on many cases involving CPS and understands how to navigate the pretrial/pleas stage of your case. When you enlist our services, you’ll receive top-tier legal advise that will put you on track to receiving the most favorable outcome available in your case. We understand what’s at stake in your child abuse and neglect case, and we are willing to go above and beyond our duties to protect your parental rights. If you’re in need of sound legal guidance in the pretrial/pleas stage of your case, give us a call today.

Contact Us for 24/7 Defense in Michigan

If you want to take the first step in defending your family from false allegations, call the Grabel & Associates team right now. Our lawyers on staff have worked on ample child abuse and neglect cases, and know what it takes to get you on track to receiving a favorable outcome. The sooner you secure our services, the more time we’ll have to develop a strong defense. When your future is on the line, don’t settle for second-rate defense lawyers. Give us a call today to learn more about how the Grabel & Associates team can help you.

We’ve made it extremely easy for you to connect with our staff. Just dial 1-800-342-7896 toll-free or fill out our online contact form. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide you with a free initial case consultation and to start building you a winning defense.