If Child Protective Services (CPS) is investigating you in relation to abusing or neglecting your children, the stakes are incredibly high, and your parental rights could hang in the balance. Ultimately, CPS wields considerable authority and weight, which makes working closely with an experienced Waco CPS attorney from the beginning the best course of action.    

Understanding the Basics 

If CPS is looking into your household, it can leave you feeling defeated and unsure of where to turn for the help you need. Having a better understanding of the CPS basics, however, can make a difference. 

When CPS Receives a Report of Neglect or Abuse

When a report of neglect or abuse is lodged with CPS, the agency begins by assessing the situation to determine whether an investigation is called for. When it is, the process often includes the following:

• Visiting the home
• Interviewing the children and members of the household
• Gathering additional information from other sources, such as the children’s medical providers and teachers

Allowing CPS into Your Home

If CPS does not have a court order, you are not required to allow them into your home. The act of not allowing them in, however, will likely prompt them to obtain a court order. A better approach is consulting with a seasoned CPS lawyer as soon as you recognize that CPS is looking into your family.

Your Rights during a CPS Investigation

If CPS does launch an investigation regarding your children, you have important rights that include being informed of the allegations against you. You also have the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present if you are interviewed by or meet with CPS. The single most important step you can take is retaining trusted legal counsel early on.

The Potential Outcomes of a CPS Investigation

Every CPS investigation is unique to the situation at hand, but outcomes generally fall into the following basic categories:

• Determining that the allegations that sparked the investigation were unfounded, which can include closing the case altogether
• Finding that services are required to help protect the involved children
• Recommending the removal of the children from the home in severe cases

The Most Common Causes behind CPS Investigations 

CPS investigations are often triggered by causes like the following:

• A report of child abuse or neglect in the home
• Concerns about the conditions the children live in, which can focus on inadequate food, unsafe or unsanitary conditions, lack of running water or electricity, or inadequate shelter, generally
• The parents’ suspected substance abuse
• Inadequate medical care
• Failure to attend school regularly
• Domestic violence in the home 

Do Not Delay Consulting with an Experienced Waco CPS Lawyer 

Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard is a knowledgeable Waco CPS attorney who will leave no stone unturned in his quest to guide you smoothly through the CPS investigatory process with your parental rights intact. Learn more by contacting or calling us at 254-781-4222 to schedule a free consultation today.