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When you hire an attorney to represent you in a Child Protective Services (CPS) case, you trust them to handle your case competently and effectively. You’re also likely paying them for their services. This often leads many clients to believe that the lawyer is responsible for all aspects of the case. However, understanding how to help your CPS lawyer is equally important.
As the client, your role extends beyond simply showing up to hearings and listening to the judge. By actively providing relevant information, staying organized, and maintaining open communication with your lawyer, you can significantly support their efforts in advocating for your best interests.
This could not be further from the truth. As a practicing family law attorney, I can tell you that the clients who achieve the most favorable results typically take an active and involved role in their cases. That’s not to say that you as a client have to do all of the work- not at all. However, expecting your attorney to do all the work while you only have to worry about the case’s outcome is not intelligent and practical.
Today’s blog post from the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, will detail steps you can take as a client to assist your attorney in representing you during a CPS case. While your relationship with your attorney will differ and be unique compared to any other attorney-client relationship, there are specific steps that I believe every client can take with every attorney to help achieve goals and favorable outcomes.
Help Your Attorney by Communicating Well With Her
You may have 1,000 things going on in your life besides your CPS case. Phone numbers change. You may move addresses. Likewise, your attorney has other clients besides yourself. With all of these factors being in play, your attorney will do her best to keep in contact with you, and you should do the same. Make an effort to call or email your attorney at least every week to make sure you know what is going on with your case.
If your contact information has changed, make sure to notify your attorney of this change as soon as you are able. I can’t tell you how frustrating it can be to have a significant hearing coming up in a client’s case, and I’ve been unable to contact the client to tell them. Our office usually has contact information for family and friends who we can talk to and speaking to these people can help us learn the new phone number for the client. However, it is much better to avoid this problem altogether by thinking ahead and communicating with your attorney early and often in your case.
Help Your Attorney by Staying Involved With Your Case
Do not take a passive role in your case. Meaning- do not expect your attorney to make an effort to contact you and keep up with you and what has been going on at all times. She is responsible for knowing your case, communicating with you, and using the information learned to represent you competently. If you attend a counseling session and complete the treatment, you need to communicate this information to your attorney. You may need to communicate this to the CPS attorney to begin final negotiations regarding your child’s return to your home.
Any documentation you receive from CPS, a counselor, or other person associated with your case should be provided to your attorney. Make copies of documents and drop them off at your attorney’s office. You can arrange a meeting, either on the phone or in person, with your attorney to discuss these updates when you both are available.
In the days before that sort of meeting, think about what you want to discuss with your lawyer. It is possible that your attorney has not thought about your particular situation as thoroughly as you have. I can almost guarantee that you are more about your case than your attorney. This doesn’t mean that an attorney isn’t worth hiring. Instead- this is the simple reality that your case affects your life in a way that your lawyer cannot duplicate in their mind.
By planning and setting an agenda for your meetings with your attorney, you can pinpoint the most critical issues and bypass a lot of the time that can be wasted trying to figure out what to talk about. If you have problems associated with therapy providers or CPS, you will need to communicate that to your attorney.
Help Your Attorney by Being Transparent With Her
To be clear is to be unkind, my granddad always told me. If you have a well-thought-out, reasonable expectation or goal associated with your case, then share that expectation/goal with your attorney in no uncertain terms. By sharing with your attorney precisely what you want to achieve in your case, you allow her to problem-solve the situation and help achieve those goals- or get as close to achieving those goals as possible.
I always commend clients on being transparent with me about problems they may have with how I communicate or explain issues. Not every person in the world understands situations the same way that I do or that you do. Your attorney may have a different way than you do in analyzing a situation. It would help if you made clear to your attorney that you may need an additional explanation of an issue or problem for it to make sense to you. When issues make sense, you can give your perspective and openly advocate for yourself. Attorneys want to represent these sorts of clients.
Help Your Attorney by Being Realistic in What Can Be Accomplished in Your CPS Case
CPS cases are tough.
Your life has turned upside down, your child has possibly been removed from your home, and you are left on the outside looking in. You don’t know when the investigation will conclude and have even less of an idea of when (or if) your child will return to your home. You have every right to feel overburdened, angry, and frustrated by your case.
However, being a helpful client means understanding that just because you are upset and angry does not mean that your attorney can do everything you want her to regarding your case. If you tell your attorney to end the investigation and secure the return of your child within the first week of the case, you will likely feel disappointed with your attorney’s response.
Your attorney cannot attend therapy sessions, fix dangerous conditions in your home, or avoid drugs and alcohol for you. Only you can do those things. Take responsibility for your actions and be reasonable when speaking with your attorney. Your attorney will go to great lengths for you and your family, but you must understand the limits of their abilities to do so as well.
Final Thoughts
It can be incredibly difficult when CPS requests your cooperation and information in an investigation that could impact whether your child returns to live with you. While it may feel counterintuitive, it is crucial to understand how to help your CPS lawyer by working cooperatively with CPS. While it’s essential to know your rights, being obstructive or uncooperative can negatively affect your case. By maintaining open communication and showing willingness to comply, you can help your lawyer build a stronger case while safeguarding your rights and your child’s well-being.
Please get in touch with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, if you have any questions regarding your CPS case. We offer free consultations with a licensed family law attorney six days a week.
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Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Houston, Texas CPS Defense Lawyers
The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding CPS, it’s essential to speak with one of our Houston, TX CPS defense Lawyers right away to protect your rights.
Our CPS defense lawyers in Houston, TX, are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form.
