Archive for the ‘ Child Custody ’ Category

LACASA hosts annual Pinwheels for Prevention for Child Abuse Prevention Month- 4/1/13

LACASA’s CAP (Child Abuse Prevention) Council will host its annual “Pinwheels for Prevention” event Monday, April 1, to launch Child Abuse Prevention Month in Livingston County.

http://www.lacasacenter.org/help-plant-a-pinwheel-garden-april-1/

LACASA protects, advocates for and empowers victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. This has been the mission of this nonprofit for more than 30 years. It assists hundreds of innocent victims and their families each year as they learn to cope with—and courageously heal from—trauma and heartache.

Members of the community are invited to help plant a pinwheel garden during a special ceremony that will take place at 12 noon on the front lawn of the Howell Carnegie Library, located at 314 W. Grand River Ave., in downtown Howell.

The “Pinwheels for Prevention” event will feature performances by the Voices of Voyager Choir from Voyager Elementary School in Howell, as well as readings by Girl Scouts from two local troops.

Ceremony speakers will include Miriam Cavanaugh, Livingston County Probate & Family Court judge; Pamela Maas, chief assistant prosecuting attorney from the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office; Bobette Schrandt, LACASA president and CEO; and Holly Ward-Lamb, youth services director of the Howell Carnegie Library.

So come out and support this important event in your local community. Wilcox_Law_criminal_juvenile_LACASA

Marcus D. Wilcox

Marcus@MDWilcoxLaw.com

www.MDWilcoxLaw.com

Attorney at Law, esq.

2013
03/27
CATEGORY
Child Custody
TAGS








Leave a comment

What is a parent agency treatment plan(PATP) in an abuse/neglect case?

A parent agency treatment plan (PATP) is a document that is drafted by employees at the Department of Human Services (DHS) that outlines what the parties, normally the mother and father, have to do to keep their minor children ( or in some cases get their children back).  The PATP consists of various items that the parents have to do including, but not limited to, a psychological examination, parenting classes, drug testing, and other various programs depending on the needs of the family.   If the parties fail to benefit from the services and fail to substantially comply with the PATP their parental rights could be terminated.   It is vitally important that the parties know and understand what is expected of them in the PATP and to comply with the services to ensure they keep their children.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or to set up a free consultation.

Marcus D. Wilcox

Marcus@MDWilcoxLaw.com

www.MDWilcoxLaw.com

Attorney at Law, esq.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this website is meant to be general, informative and educational. It should not be taken as specific legal advice to any particular problem or issue. Please consult an attorney personally to discuss your particular circumstances.

2012
06/08
CATEGORY
Child Custody
TAGS



Leave a comment

My ex-spouse has violated a court order. Why is the punishment not more severe?

It is common in every divorce for one or both parties to violate court orders that apply to the divorce agreement. Examples are not showing up on time for scheduled parenting meet-ups, having someone of the opposite sex at the house without informing the other parent first or missing a sport or extra-curricular activity mandated by the court.

The Friend of the Court (FOC)  handles these issues on a daily basis and unfortunately does not have the requisite personnel to handle all of the disputes that each party has.

This can obviously be quite frustrating to the party who is dealing with the consequences of the ex-spouse’s violation. The court will typically hear the issues if they are continuous and ongoing.

I advise clients to keep a daily log of what happens and when the incidents occur. A stronger case can be made to take action if there is strong documentation of the violations.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or to set up a free consultation.

Marcus D. Wilcox

Marcus@MDWilcoxLaw.com

www.MDWilcoxLaw.com

Attorney at Law, esq.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this website is meant to be general, informative and educational. It should not be taken as specific legal advice to any particular problem or issue. Please consult an attorney personally to discuss your particular circumstances.

2012
02/26
CATEGORY
Child Custody
Divorce
TAGS




Leave a comment

I believe my ex-spouse is harming the children or placing them in harm’s way during visitations. What can or should I do

If you feel your children are in immediate danger then you should contact the local police authorities.

If you feel there is a longer-term issue, but is not an immediate threat you need to contact CPS (Child Protective Services) and file a formal complaint.

If you believe the ex-spouse is drinking or abusing drugs while they are caring for the children, it is wise to obtain as much information as possible about the situation and then file a complaint.

However filing a complaint with either the local police authorities or CPS can create a very challenging situation because it could put the child or children in the middle of the situation potentially forcing them to testify against a parent.

For this reason, I would strongly advise you seek counsel prior to making any rash decisions unless the child or children are in immediate danger.

Child custody situations are heartbreaking for all parties involved and rarely have an easy solution. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.

Marcus D. Wilcox

Marcus@MDWilcoxLaw.com

www.MDWilcoxLaw.com

Attorney at Law, esq.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this website is meant to be general, informative and educational. It should not be taken as specific legal advice to any particular problem or issue. Please consult an attorney personally to discuss your particular circumstances.

2012
01/10
CATEGORY
Child Custody
Divorce
TAGS





Leave a comment

CPS (Child Protective Services) wants to conduct an interview. What do I do?

You are not obligated to participate in the interview without talking to an attorney first. CPS typically seeks information that will allow them to substantiate a CPS complaint, and thus open the case. In some instances, they will threaten to take your children and you must be aware of your rights to protect yourself.

The people who work for CPS are not attorneys and want to obtain as much information from you and your family before you obtain an attorney.  CPS will state that they have protocols and procedures that they have to follow, which is correct, however they are not statutes of law, but are merely their own internal policies.

CPS does have the authority to take your children out of the home if they can substantiate that there is an immediate threat to the minor children, but this rarely happens.  They are required to investigate all calls and reports associated with the issue and then make a formal filing or case in order to handle the case properly.

CPS will normally want to interview all parties involved and then decide whether or not to open a formal complaint.

The bottom line is that each situation has its own unique circumstances which will dictate how CPS can and will respond.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions so that I can help you understand your options.

Marcus@MDWilcoxLaw.com 

www.MDWilcoxLaw.com

Marcus D. Wilcox

Attorney at Law, esq.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this website is meant to be general, informative and educational. It should not be taken as specific legal advice to any particular problem or issue. Please consult an attorney personally to discuss your particular circumstances.

2011
11/14
CATEGORY
Child Custody
TAGS





Leave a comment

Recent entry

Archive

Category