Child protective services representation for parents, foster parents, and relative caregivers facing DSS investigations and juvenile court proceedings.
Two Board Certified Specialists
Batch, Poore & Williams represents parents, foster families, and relative caregivers in North Carolina child welfare matters. Our work includes investigations, abuse, neglect and dependency proceedings, Responsible Individuals List review, and termination of parental rights.
Child welfare is a distinct focus within our firm. Partners Sydney J. Batch and Shannon C. Poore are Board Certified Child Welfare Law Specialists. They bring experience with the legal and practical questions that arise when DSS becomes involved in family life.
Learn about the attorneys who handle these sensitive family matters.
Your legal options depend on the allegations, your role in the child’s life, and whether DSS has filed a court case. We help you understand that distinction before taking action.
Advice about investigator contact, interviews, records requests, and proposed safety agreements. We help you understand what is being requested and its possible legal effect.
Representation at adjudication, disposition, review, and permanency planning hearings involving abuse, neglect, or dependency allegations.
Prompt review of a notice identifying you as a responsible individual and representation in the district-court process for contesting that determination.
Advice about placement changes, participation in juvenile proceedings, and how the child’s permanent plan affects a caregiver’s options.
Preparing evidence and arguments concerning the alleged grounds and the child’s best interests. Explore TPR representation.
Reviewing the court order and trial record for potential legal error and discussing available appellate options. Explore our appeals practice.
CPS is part of the county Department of Social Services. An assessment can involve home visits, interviews, and information from schools, medical providers, and other people involved in the child’s life. An investigation is not the same as a court finding.
Ask for the investigator’s name, county, contact information, and any written notices. Counsel can help you assess interviews, releases, and safety agreements in light of the circumstances.
Keep notices, messages, proposed plans, and existing orders. Write down key dates and contacts. Share any approaching meeting or hearing date with your attorney promptly.
Our attorneys explain how to respond without treating every request or allegation as identical. If law enforcement is also involved, tell your attorney so advice accounts for any related criminal investigation. Do not ignore a court order or deadline while seeking help.
Read our guides on CPS investigation timelines and cooperating with a police or CPS investigation.
A notice from DSS may involve a separate review process or a proposed change in where a child lives. Bring the actual notice and relevant orders so we can identify the right procedure.
A RIL determination can have consequences for work involving children. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-323, an individual generally has 15 days after receiving the specified notice to petition for judicial review in district court.
We review the notice, filing requirements, and supporting evidence. This is judicial review before a judge, with opportunities to present evidence and question witnesses. Contact counsel promptly rather than waiting for a separate juvenile hearing.
Section 7B-906.2(b1) requires a hearing before certain placement changes when reunification is not occurring and all statutory conditions are met. These include DSS custody, 12 consecutive months with the caretaker, an adoption plan, and the caretaker’s objection and stated desire to adopt. Relative availability also matters for a nonrelative caretaker.
The protection has an exception for allegations of abuse or neglect in the current placement. It does not automatically make a caregiver a party. Read our placement-change guide.
Parents, foster parents, and relative caregivers may have different legal rights. We assess the client’s role and the court’s existing orders rather than assuming one rule applies to every family.
A juvenile case can involve several hearings with different purposes. Our team explains the current stage, prepares for the next hearing, and keeps longer-term consequences in view.
Review the allegations, summons, custody orders, and hearing notices. Identify immediate deadlines and questions about placement or contact.
Address whether the allegations of abuse, neglect, or dependency are proven. Preparation may include records, witnesses, and challenges to the evidence.
Advocate concerning the child’s care, placement, services, and appropriate parent-child contact in light of the court’s findings.
Present progress, address barriers, and examine the plan for the child’s future. Reunification, custody, guardianship, or adoption may be considered as the case develops.
Explain the order and evaluate next steps, including any TPR proceeding or available appeal. A removal or custody order does not itself terminate parental rights.
Do not wait for a trial date to ask for help. Early advice can clarify an investigation, a proposed agreement, or a notice with a short deadline. If a hearing or placement change is approaching, tell our office when you first contact us.
We represent clients in Raleigh, Wake County, and surrounding communities, including Johnston, Durham, Chatham, Harnett, and Franklin counties. Contact us about a matter elsewhere in North Carolina so we can discuss the court involved and the representation needed.
Keep the original documents and let the team know what is missing. We can discuss what additional information is needed.
Our team approach brings together a partner, associate attorney, and paralegal. Internal communication helps the people working on your case stay informed and answer questions when an attorney is in court.
We emphasize planning early: explaining the steps ahead, identifying the documents to gather, and preparing for evidence and witness questions before the hearing. In a DSS matter, that can mean organizing the case plan, visitation history, service records, and the concerns raised in the petition.
We also recognize the uncertainty families face. We listen to your concerns, explain difficult choices in plain language, and discuss how each decision fits your legal position and the child’s circumstances.
Tell us about the investigation, notice, or upcoming hearing so we can discuss the next steps.
Our Raleigh office
5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 315
Sydney J. Batch and Shannon C. Poore focus on the proceedings that affect children’s safety, placement, and family relationships.
Founding Partner · Child Welfare Law
Founding Partner · Child Welfare Law
You can seek advice during an investigation. Counsel can review proposed agreements, help you understand requests for information, and identify issues before a court filing. The appropriate response depends on the facts, existing orders, and any related investigation.
Child Protective Services is a child welfare function carried out through county departments of social services. DSS can assess reports, provide or arrange services, and seek court intervention when necessary. A social worker’s assessment and a judge’s ruling are different steps.
No. An investigation, placement change, or juvenile custody order does not automatically terminate parental rights. TPR is a separate proceeding with statutory requirements. Our attorneys can explain how the current case and permanent plan affect your situation.
Yes. A caregiver can seek advice about their rights, participation in court, a proposed placement change, and adoption or custody options. Caregiver status does not automatically provide all the rights of a party. We assess the applicable law and existing orders.
Some orders are appealable, with specific deadlines and procedural requirements. In the 2024 unpublished case In re K.P., Sydney Batch represented a father whose TPR adjudication was reversed and disposition vacated. Past results do not predict another case’s outcome. Read about the firm’s TPR appeal.
Our CPS and DSS FAQ addresses common questions. You can also read our parent’s rights overview and TPR guide. Bring questions about how this information applies to your family, and do not delay action on a notice or hearing while researching.
Contact Batch, Poore & Williams to discuss your DSS investigation, juvenile court case, or caregiver concerns. Let us know about any notice, hearing, or proposed placement change.
