New York State Custody

If a child (person under the legal age of 18) appears to be neglected or abused, or is in danger of being neglected or abused, the state of New York may remove the child from the care of the biological parent(s).  If someone makes allegations of child abuse or neglect, a petition is usually filed with a New York agency called the Administration for Children’s Services.  After a child is removed from their parent(s) care, New York courts must determine if the allegations of abuse or neglect are justifiable.  If the courts find that the allegations are true, a dispositional hearing will be scheduled to determine the next steps and best interests of the child.

New York Dispositional Hearing
Before the dispositional hearing, if the child was not removed from the home of his/her parent(s), and the court feels removal is necessary; the child will be removed and placed in state custody.  State custody is also referred to as New York foster care.  The child will have to remain in foster care until the court makes a final decision at the dispositional hearing.

Shortly after a dispositional hearing is scheduled, the court will order a complete investigation of the child’s home and the child’s family.  This investigation is usually conducted by the Administration for Children’s Services.  After the investigation, a report is generated and submitted to the judge presiding over the hearing. 

During the dispositional hearing, the court will review the report provided by the Administration for Children’s Services, interview the parent(s), and listen to recommendations.  After carefully evaluating the situation, the court will either release the child back into the parent(s) custody or keep the child in foster care for a period of time.  In some cases, the court may suspend judgment for up to 12 months.    

Hiring a Child Custody Attorney
A parent who has had a child taken from his/her custody should consult with a knowledgeable child custody attorney immediately.  A child custody attorney can inform the parent of his/her rights, provide the parent with legal options, investigate the parent’s case, interview key witnesses, and represent the parent in court.  The legal proceedings surrounding state custody and foster care cases are not easy to comprehend or manage.  By retaining the services of a New York child custody attorney, a parent has a better chance in court, which may prevent the removal of his/her child.  

New York Child Custody Attorneys

If you are a parent who is involved in a child custody dispute, you should speak with a skilled New York child custody attorney.  The knowledgeable attorneys at The Law Offices of Martin K. Lang have over 20 years experience helping clients with their child custody matters.  At The Law Offices of Martin K. Lang, our family law attorneys are attentive and compassionate to our clients needs.  When you work with our experienced child custody attorneys, you can be assured that you are retaining reliable legal representation and up-to-date resources.  We will do everything possible to make sure your child custody case is handled in a timely, professional manner. 

Our initial consultations are free of charge so that you can seek the guidance you need without having to spend money on unjustifiable legal fees. 

Contact The Law Offices of Martin K. Lang
 (516) 227-2255
(631) 226-4200

The Law Offices of Martin K. Lang proudly serves clients throughout New York in Long Island, Garden City, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Mineola. 

Contact us about your legal matter today!