Legal Question in Disability Law in Illinois
dcfs is threatening to take kids away after a domestic violence between me and my fiance. This is our first time, and I need to know what we need to do, even though the judge said he could come back.
1 Answer from Attorneys
DCFS has authority to remove children from an environment that poses physical and emotional danger to a child. Exposure to domestic violence indisputably has a negative impact on a child's emotional, psychological, and physical health. You note it's the "first time." How many times this has happened is irrelevant as to the damage that has already been done to your children and will likely continue. Domestic violence usually escalates and persists unless and until the cause/agressor is removed from the environment. Often victims are not willing to leave or throw the agressor out and the only option is then to remove the kids. I suggest you decide what's more important: this fiance or you and your duty as a parent to your kids.