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Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. |
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Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. |
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Obtaining a Lawyer in a Child Protective Proceeding
© 1997 by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
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Child Protective Services placed my child. Can I get a lawyer free?
Yes, if you cannot afford an attorney.
Will Neighborhood Legal Services provide me a lawyer?
No. We rarely handle such cases.
Then how do I get a lawyer?
At your first Court appearance, tell the Judge you need a lawyer but can't afford one. Ask the Judge to appoint a lawyer for you. The Judge's Clerk should give you a referral slip to the Assigned Counsel Program.
What do I do with the referral slip?
Take the referral slip and proof of your income to the office of Assigned Counsel, Room 630 Brisbane Building, 403 Main Street in Buffalo. That office will check to be sure that your family's income qualifies you for free legal services. If you do qualify, that office will contact a lawyer to represent you in the Child Protection action.
What happens if I don't qualify?
The Assigned Counsel staff will tell you right away. You will have to hire your own attorney. If you think the Assigned Counsel office has made a mistake, call us back.
What does Child Protective Services have to do?
CPS must provide services to help families stay together or to reunite families as quickly as possible. Following is a list of core services that must be made available as needed:
Ask your CPS worker to arrange for any of the services you need. If CPS does not give you any of the services, call us back.
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