Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

State agency threatening to take my child away

I suffer from depression and ADHD, the depression I am on disability benefits for. A year and a half ago the Department of Social Services became involved in my and my son's life because of a complaint that my house was messy. There were a couple other complaints which there were no findings on. Any how, I am now on my 3rd caseworker and she has continuously implied that I am mentally unstable to the point of needing hospitalization (was evaluated and there was no finding by the therapist)and has stated to my mother that she thinks that the fact that my house is CLUTTERED makes me a neglectful mother, which I am not. My son is well taken care of and loved. Also, because Massachusetts DSS is under scrutiny of the press because they are not well run, she has stated to my mother,"But what will the press say?" I don't know what to do. They won't leave me alone and I have made progress, just not as fast as they want. Can they take my son away because of my depression and its symptoms?


Asked on 8/30/99, 7:47 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Barbara C. Johnson Law Office of Barbara C. Johnson

Re: State agency threatening to take my child away

In reality, DSS is accountable only to the press. The press will have a

heyday if your house is a "hell-hole," so I ask one question: How cluttered is

"CLUTTERED"? Seems safer to use some of the SSDI

benefits and hire a housekeeper in to do away

with the clutter. How often does a DSS worker pay a visit to you?

Barbara C. Johnson, http://falseallegations.com/

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Answered on 8/31/99, 2:43 pm


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