The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been designed to protect minor children who are being abused, abandoned and neglected. When they deem that a child is in danger, they have the power to take custody of the children in an Emergency Shelter. The parents have the right to have an evidentiary hearing in order to fight the accusations against them. If the Shelter is granted, the Judge will order at least a minimum of visitations for each parent.

Subsequent to the shelter hearing, it is the responsibility of DCF to file formal accusations against the parents in a document known as a "petition for dependency." The parents have the right at that point to consent to the petition or request a formal hearing or trial. At this trial, the attorney for DCF will have the burden of presenting witnesses and evidence that strive to prove the allegations in the petition. If the petition is denied, the case is over and the children will be returned to the parents. If the petition is granted by the judge after the trial, then a case plan will be formulated by DCF, giving the parents specific tasks to perform in order to be reunified with their children.

There are some tasks that appear in all case plans. Each parent needs to communicate with their case manager periodically, and they need to show proof of a stable home and a stable source of income as well. Depending on the circumstances that brought a parent to dependency court, the mother or father may have to perform some other specific tasks, such as anger management classes, substance abuse classes, random drug tests, or a mental health evaluation. 

After a case plan is formulated, there will be judicial reviews every few months in court. The reason for these court dates is for the judge to get all of the parties together to see how the children and the parents are doing. The case manager and the guardian ad litem’s office will file documents prior to the judicial reviews which let the parties know how the family is doing. Everyone in the case has the right to participate and speak to the court at these judicial reviews.

The main goal for most case plans is for the parents to be reunified with the children. During this process, it's vital that you have an experienced attorney on your side. Sal Bazaz has been representing parents of southwest Florida for 20 years, and is prepared to help you through the process of dependency court. 

With Sal Bazaz's help, you can be sure that your rights and the rights of your loved ones are preserved and safeguarded in DCF court. Choose Law by Bazaz to Be Your Voice in DCF Court and Help Keep Your Family Together