Juvenile & Dependency Litigation In Birmingham
What Is a Dependency Action?
A dependency action is a legal proceeding wherein a court determines whether a child is without a fit parent or guardian, often due to abuse and/or neglect. When children are removed from the care of their parents or legal guardians on a temporary basis, the goal is to reunify the children with their parents or legal guardians whenever possible.
Depending on the allegations, the parents or legal guardians may be asked to:
- Submit to drug and/or alcohol monitoring
- Participate in counseling
- Complete parenting courses
- As well as any other requirements the court may deem necessary in order to effectuate the reunification process successfully
If it becomes apparent that reunification is not possible, a child may be permanently removed from the home. The law typically favors placing a child with a relative, although there are circumstances where that may not be possible and other options may need to be considered.
Our team has extensive experience representing persons who feel a child is without a fit parent or guardian in the filing of a dependency petition. We also have experience representing parents and/or guardians who have been alleged to be unfit, abusive and/or neglectful against in their defense against a dependency petition.
