Where can I get accurate legal information about parental rights and social services in Topeka, KS?
Question by Allusionary : Where can I get accurate legal information about parental rights and social services in Topeka, KS? First, I will say I have a court appointed attorney (who has pretty much informed me that I have “parental rights” but social services can do what it wants.)
Two weeks ago I received a phone call from out of state. Social Services in Topeka, KS had taken my children, who I have joint non residential custody of from their father and placed them in what I gather is emergency foster care. I returned the call to find out the case was that Friday and it was to determine if both parents lost custody. (What? I wasn’t even in state. How could I possibly have done anything.)
The court hearing where my ex husband thought he would get the kids back was more a reading of accusations by social services. We were not able to make any statements and social services was not required to provide any evidence to back the accusations whatsoever. In fact, they have yet to get the kids to the doctor for an evaluation of potential abuse. Furthermore, social services was allowed to decide placement and subsequently decided to restrict my visitation with my children although no accusations have been made against me nor was I even in state at the time of the supposed abuse.
Thankfully, the children were placed with family.
That comes to the reason for this lengthy explanation. I am trying to figure out if I have any legal rights whatsoever. Prior to this, I believe that to be accused/charged with something, one had the right to defend oneself and evidence had to be presented to back the accusations. Innocent until proven guilty comes to mind.
But that is not the case. My children have been taken. I have been restricted to supervised visitations. Its my understanding that social services tried telling my lawyer that my kids did not want to see me. (I saw them thankfully today under supervision for an hour. There was no indication whatsoever that my children did not want to see me. In fact, my younger girl asked me why they couldn’t see me when I hadn’t done anything wrong.)
Does anyone know of parental resources in Topeka, KS, particularly legal, for dealing with this type of situation?
The court appointed me an attorney to represent me. There is something scheduled for my ex husband pertaining to the accusations. There is nothing required, that has been mentioned to me, for the non-stated reasons for me being restricted based on accusations my ex husband. Best answer:
Answer by Charlie
It was only a preliminary hearing to determine temporary care, not a trial. The next stage you have rights you can insist on. There will usually be a court appointed lawyer to represent you children, not social services, since children have rights too, at least in Nevada. You have to get your own lawyer and pay for it.
What do you think? Answer below!
I do not understand why you would need “supervised visits” unless your divorce was contentious or you admitted to some form of mental condition/adultery in order to get a divorce. A state appointed Attorney is almost no better than none in your case. You need a champion to fight for your rights – which you didn’t relinquish when you were divorced. Its really not normal for the husband to end up with the children – and to even leave the state unless you left the state, and he’s trying to say that you abandoned the children. Just keep your cool, and work with the system and try to get a better Attorney.