what kind of lawyer can file a child abuse claim

by Naomi Wolff 7 min read

A child abuse lawyer understands issues related to child abuse and neglect, and child physical or emotional abuse claims can arise in a variety of contexts and motives. Sometimes the young victim tells a relative, who then files a lawsuit; at other times, a government agency such as Child Protective Services may press charges.

Full Answer

What does a child abuse lawyer do?

If a child has been the victim of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, a child abuse lawyer can help you figure out the right child custody, visitation, or guardianship to protect the child. If you are accused of child abuse, a child abuse lawyer can also determine the best strategy to defend against the charges or clear your name. Why hire a Child abuse attorney. A child abuse lawyer …

Do I need a family lawyer for emotional abuse?

Feb 25, 2020 · Contact Collins & Collins, P.C. for a Free Review of Your Case If you have been falsely accused of child abuse and there has been no finding of abuse by a court, you have evidence that the allegations were made in bad faith or with malice, and the defendant has homeowners insurance, you should contact an experienced attorney right away.

Can I bring a civil claim for childhood sexual abuse?

Jan 29, 2022 · Build the case — A family law attorney will help you consult with an expert to assess the extent of emotional damages, collect statements from eyewitnesses, family members, doctors, and more. File a personal injury claim — An attorney will …

Can I file a lawsuit for emotional abuse?

If you are continually being accused of child neglect or maltreatment, you must file a complaint under Penal Law § 240.50 to the sheriff. To sue, the original criminal charge must be resolved. Under California Penal Code § 148.3, individuals that report false incidents of child abuse and maltreatment may be guilty of a third-degree class A ...

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What are the 4 legal categories of abuse?

The four different main types of child abuse are physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse.Physical Abuse. Physical Abuse is the deliberate intention to inflict pain. ... Emotional Abuse. ... Neglect. ... Sexual Abuse. ... Long Term Effects of Child Abuse.

What is a abuse in legal terms?

Abuse is an action that intentionally causes harm or injures another person.

What do you do if someone files a false DCF report in Illinois?

DCFS may then directly report the knowing transmission of a false report to the State's Attorney of your County for subsequent prosecution. If DCFS does not report the crime, you can contact your local police and/or State's Attorney to report the crime.

Are California Attorneys mandated reporters?

While California law does not view attorneys as mandated reporters, an attorney may decide that such reporting is in the best interests of the child or otherwise is the right thing to do — this will not fall under the purview of Rule 3-100.

What is considered abusing a child?

'Child abuse or neglect' means the physical injury or neglect, mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment of a child under age 18 by a person under circumstances that indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened.

What is Republic Act 7610 all about?

Republic Act 7610: Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Section 1.

How long does DCFS take to investigate in Illinois?

60 daysHow long do DCFS investigations take? DCFS has 60 days to complete a formal investigation. Formal investigations are used to: Figure out if there is reliable evidence that a child was abused or neglected.

Can you press charges against someone for making false accusations to CPS in Illinois?

Illinois is not a state where parents can specifically be punished for making false accusations of abuse, although knowingly filing a false report with DCFS is a felony. The Illinois State Central Register keeps a record of every DCFS investigation for up to three years, even if it proves to be unfounded.Jul 15, 2021

Why would a child make false accusations?

False retractions of accusations by children who have been abused are suggested to occur for one or more of several reasons: out of shame or embarrassment, fear of being sent to a foster home, due to the reaction of adults leading them to feel their behavior was "wrong" or "bad", a desire to protect the perpetrator who ...

Which of the following types of reports must be reported by the child welfare agency to the CACI?

The law requires child welfare agencies to make a CACI report to the CA DOJ whenever they substantiate an allegation of 1) physical abuse, 2) sexual abuse, 3) mental abuse, or 4) severe neglect.

Does emotional abuse need to be reported?

And anyone who suspects a child is being emotionally abused should report it to the police or other child authorities. Whether it occurs in a nursing home or in their own home, emotional abuse of elders can have tragic consequences. Elder abuse, including emotional and psychological abuse, is a crime.Aug 19, 2015

Is emotional abuse reportable in California?

Reasonable suspicion of emotional abuse that must be reported often results from verbal disclosures or direct observation and involves any person willfully causing or permitting any child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or endangering the child's person or health (Penal Code 11165.3).

Interplay of The Criminal and Civil Processes

  • The criminal law process involves prosecution of the perpetrator (the defendant) by the state, with the prospect of incarceration and other penalties, but it does not generally involve monetary compensation for a sexual abuse victim or the victim's family. But the victim or the victim's family (the plaintiff) can sue the perpetrator in civil court ...
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Who Can Sue?

  • Either the child or the child's legal care giver—birth parents or otherwise—may be able to sue for child sexual abuse. The child, usually represented by a parent or other guardian, can sue for the physical, emotional and other harm caused by the abuse. The care givers may be able to sue for their own emotional distress and related harm stemming from the abuse. Learn more about em…
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Potential Causes of Action in A Child Sexual Abuse Case

  • There is no one civil cause of action called "child sexual abuse." Instead, a plaintiff suing for this kind of harm can include a number of different causes of action in a single personal injury lawsuitagainst the perpetrator. As with other cases, the same facts can make a defendant liable under a variety of legal theories. Although finding a defendant liable under multiple theories in a …
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Child Sexual Abuse and The Statute of Limitations

  • A statute of limitationsis a state law that puts a time limit on the right to file a lawsuit seeking civil damages after any kind of wrongful act. A number of states have passed (or are considering) special statute of limitations rules for civil cases based on sexual assault or abuse of victims who were minors at the time of the offense. A few states have even passed "lookback window" laws t…
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Additional Liable Parties Beyond The Perpetrator

  • If the sexual abuse incident occurred at a church, school, place of business, or through another organization, the perpetrator of the abuse might not be the only one to face civil liability. (Note: From a practical standpoint, the addition of potentially-liable parties can be crucial to whether or not a survivor can actually collect compensation for harm resulting from the abuse. While the ab…
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Taking Action After Abuse

  • A broad spectrum of resources and options is available to survivors of childhood sexual abuse. And even when you're ready to seek justice by filing a lawsuit, the causes of action and liability theories we've covered here are not the final word. A skilled and creative attorney could potentially find any number of other legal theories that fit the facts of a case. In personal injury law, causes …
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