Legal Question in Family Law in Florida
I am currently going through a DCF/CPI investigation because my son was admitted to the hospital with a sub dermal hematoma. He had to have a emergency craniotomy, he also had a stroke and a seizure and lost mobility on his left side. I was at work and my (now ex) boyfriend was watching my son and he texted me to tell me that my son had fallen in the bathtub (he needed a bath because he had thrown up on himself because he wasn't feeling well, and was running a slight fever). I asked him if I should take him to the hospital when I got home and he said my son is fine. The next day my son had a big bruise on the left side of his cheek. But he was running around and playing and 3 of my coworkers saw him the day after he fell and he was fine. (he was running around my office and laughing. The next day (2 days after he fell) I fed him breakfast and he was running around playing again acting like his normal self. That day I get a call from my now ex that said my son was unresponsive and was shaking. I yelled at him to call 911 and ran out of work. I met my son at the hospital where I was told he had a brain bleed on the right side of his brain and he had lost mobility on the left side. They took both of my kids from my custody and are looking to terminate my parental rights. I have allegations of neglect and abuse against me. I am unsure of what to do since I don't really know what happened to my son since I was at work during both incidents. I don't abuse or neglect my children. And my children are my everything, my life. I want to find out what exactly happened to my son and pursue criminal charges against my ex, because of what happened to my son. How do I prove that I didn't abuse or neglect my son? How do I prove that I am a fit mother? My arraignment was given a continuance due to the state not being ready. I don't have a case plan in place yet, but they are making me do parenting classes and random drug tests (I don't have a drug problem so I don't understand why I have to do this) Any advice?
4 Answers from Attorneys
You need to hire an attorney. Contact legal aid or your county bar association to see if there's someone who can help you for a reduced fee or no fee. These cases are difficult and require an incredible amount of time. In the meantime, do everything, and I mean everything, you are required to do by DCF or the court, on time. YOu don't have to like it or understand it, but you have to do it. Like taking random drug tests - those are required in every case, whether the person investigated has a drug issue or not. Be intimately familiar with the allegations against you.
Mr. Kaufman gave you excellent advise. Follow the DCF to the letter. Stop complaining and just do it. Stay in constant contact with them. Don't wait for a report for the ex - go file charges ASAP against him. He may have a former record that you are unaware of that shows he has abused or hurt children or that he has a violent nature, Obviously since he is o ut of the picture there is some reason you are saying he is the ex.
If you want DCF out of your life in the quickest way possible then do the case plan and cooperate with the case worker.
You are in the clutches of the Gestapo. Do as they say, or else hire an attorney to assist you in fighting back. Do Not attempt to fight without an attorney assisting.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
