Juvenile Law Attorney in Longwood

Compassionate Representation in Juvenile Cases

Should a child become embroiled in the dependency system, there will be allegations of abuse, abandonment, or neglect.

At Levy & Associates P.A., Our juvenile law attorneys in Longwood have extensive experience representing children, parents, and even more frequently, grandparents or other family members responsible for caring for the child while the dependency case reaches a resolution.

Process for Formulating a Custody Agreement

Our juvenile law attorneys have been involved in both initiating private dependency actions where a family chooses to avoid making an anonymous report to the child abuse hotline and instead helps move the parents toward a productive plan leading to reunification with their child.

In some instances, returning the child to the parent is not ideal and our attorneys will assist in formulating an enforceable custody agreement placing a child with another caring family member.

What are the Rights of Family Members in a Dependency Action

Parents in a dependency action are entitled to an attorney, and an attorney’s early involvement can be critical to successful reunification with the child. Our attorneys represent parents accused of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Parents who have dependency actions brought against them could face the termination of their parental rights. We help protect the parents’ rights, assists in setting up visitation, and helps cases progress as quickly as possible by advising parents about which actions will facilitate closing the case.

Are Children with Special Needs Protected

Our attorneys also represent children who are at the heart of dependency actions. Because our attorneys have extensive experience in teaching profoundly autistic children and other children with special needs, they are often called upon to assist children who need a voice in court to address unique issues requiring specific resolution. They are also very active in ensuring children with special needs who age out of foster care are protected and have the resources they need to be successful.

Frequently, our attorneys have represented grandparents or other caregivers responsible for the day-to-day care of a child. Under current law, these caregivers are not considered parties to the dependency action, yet they are charged with a great deal of responsibility. With legal representation, the caregivers are provided a greater voice with the court and other parties and have a clearer understanding of the roles and options to which they may avail themselves.

Juvenile Delinquency in Longwood

When juveniles are detained, it is critical that an attorney become immediately involved in the case. With early intervention, cases can often be resolved without the child incurring a juvenile record. Although juvenile records are often considered to be confidential, with the expansion of social media, broadening of records laws, and other factors, simply entering a plea of guilty or no contest may well hamper a juvenile’s ability to enter some colleges and some areas of work. Additionally, the child may be subject to detention before and after a hearing to determine delinquency and may be placed in a residential facility away from the family.

Early intervention is crucial to keep the child’s options open, protect his or her future, and to have a full view of possible outcomes of adjudication. Certainly, no child should ever enter a plea to a felony offense without the assistance of counsel, as the ramifications may follow the juvenile throughout the remainder of their lifetime.

Representation of juveniles is an expense that parents should want to contemplate, despite their frustration over the child’s possible culpability due to the serious consequences which may result from poor representation or lack of representation. Additionally, under some circumstances, juvenile cases may be transferred to adult court, which removes most protections available under juvenile rules and statutes, including incarceration in an adult facility with more mature and/or hardened offenders.

Our attorneys can assist with IEP plans and in resolving delinquency issues that impact school attendance. You can trust our Longwood juvenile criminal defense attorneys to relentlessly fight on your child’s behalf. We can also help you with all your CINS/FINS needs.

Florida Adoption Law

The adoption process is usually, by necessity, a two-stage process. If the child is to be adopted by a non-relative, the court requires proof of several specifics, which our attorney can help you complete.

Families form in many wonderful ways. Sometimes, stepparents, grandparents or other relatives adopt a child or children they love. Sometimes, children who have lost their parents due to death, incarceration, drugs or other dependency actions. The attorneys at Levy & Associates P.A. are delighted to assist with Forever Family adoptions, with an ever vigilant eye toward obtaining or retaining all appropriate benefits.