What would you do if Child Protective Services (CPS) showed up at your door with questions about your parenting or home life? For thousands of families each year, this isn’t a hypothetical scenario—it’s a terrifying reality. About 3.5 million children were the subjects of child protective services investigations in 2023 alone. Allegations of abuse or neglect—whether true, exaggerated, or completely unfounded—can result in children being removed from their homes, even before a full investigation is completed.
At Daniel Ogbeide Law, we understand how traumatizing these situations can be. As a respected family law firm, we help parents protect their rights, their children, and their future. With an experienced CPS attorney by your side, you don’t have to face these allegations alone. Our team works relentlessly to ensure that the legal process is fair, transparent, and fully compliant with your constitutional rights.
In this article, we’ll break down how a CPS attorney helps families facing abuse or neglect allegations, ensures the legal process is followed properly, and defends parental rights from the start of an investigation through every hearing.
Why You Need a CPS Attorney Right Away
When CPS gets involved, the clock starts ticking immediately. Any delays in seeking legal help could lead to misunderstandings or poor decisions with long-term consequences. A CPS attorney steps in early to:
- Review the nature of the allegations
- Advise you on what to say (and what not to say) to investigators
- Protect your rights during home visits and interviews
- Advocate for your child to stay in the home, if safe and appropriate
Without legal guidance, even a well-meaning parent can inadvertently say or do something that fuels the case against them. A skilled CPS lawyer helps you respond appropriately, knowing what evidence is needed and how best to present it.
Defending Your Parental Rights
Parental rights are protected under the U.S. Constitution, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be challenged or limited. Once CPS opens a case, they can request emergency custody, supervised visitation, and even parental termination. The role of a CPS attorney is to defend these rights at every stage, including:
- Emergency removal hearings: Making sure any removal request is backed by clear evidence and legal justification.
- Service plan negotiations: Helping you understand CPS’s expectations and making sure the service plan is realistic and fair.
- Court representation: Presenting your side of the story to the judge in a compelling and legally sound way.
A good CPS attorney doesn’t just react—they develop a proactive legal strategy that keeps the child’s best interest in focus while strongly defending the parent’s rights.
Keeping CPS Accountable to the Law
CPS has broad authority, but they are not above the law. A CPS attorney ensures that all procedures followed by CPS are within the boundaries of the law and do not infringe upon your rights as a parent.
Here’s how your attorney helps hold the agency accountable:
- Challenging unlawful entry or search: CPS must follow legal protocols. If investigators overstep, your lawyer can challenge any evidence they obtain.
- Demanding full transparency: You have the right to know what’s in the CPS report and what evidence is being used against you.
- Preventing unnecessary removal: Just because CPS believes something doesn’t mean it’s true. Your lawyer pushes back on weak or speculative claims.
Too often, families assume they have to comply with everything CPS demands. In reality, there are checks and balances in place—and your CPS lawyer makes sure those safeguards are used effectively.
Long-Term Protection and Support
Some CPS cases are resolved quickly. Others can drag on for months or even years. Your CPS attorney doesn’t just handle the hearings—they also help you build long-term stability by:
- Securing favorable custody arrangements if the case overlaps with a divorce or custody dispute
- Helping complete service plans in a way that works for your family
- Preventing termination of parental rights through evidence, witness testimony, and expert reports
Throughout the process, your attorney becomes your advocate, your advisor, and your protector—someone whose sole focus is on securing the best outcome for your family.
Is Your Family at Risk? Here’s Why Legal Help Can’t Wait
If you’ve been contacted by CPS or are under investigation, your family’s future may depend on how you respond. This is not the time to wait, hope for the best, or go it alone. One misstep could result in devastating consequences that take years to undo.
At Daniel Ogbeide Law, we bring a serious, experienced approach to cases involving CPS. Whether you need a CPS attorney in Houston for emergency hearings or a CPS lawyer in Houston to represent you through a long-term case, we’re ready to step in and protect your family. Our team understands the system, knows how to defend against overreach, and is committed to keeping families together whenever safely possible.
Contact Daniel Ogbeide Law today to schedule a consultation and get the legal defense your family deserves. Your children, your rights, and your peace of mind are too important to trust to chance. Let us help you take back control—because no one should have to face CPS alone.