Child Protective Services / Responsible Individuals List

One of the most important and fundamental rights of a parent is the right to raise and rear one's child. However, there are a few occasions when the State can intervene in the parent-child relationship. If the state or the Department of Social Services (DSS) receives a report that a parent has abused, neglected or abandoned a child, Child Protective Services must investigate whether the allegations are true.

When Child Protective Services (CPS) becomes involved with your family, it is usually associated with negative consequences. Social workers will enter your home and investigate whether any abuse, neglect or dependency has occurred involving your children. While it does not seem that you have any legal rights during these investigations, you do. When CPS calls or visits your home, you need immediate and experienced legal advice and assistance to resolve matters.

Child Protective Services Investigations

It is typical for CPS to complete an investigation of the allegations it received about your child. After the investigation, CPS makes a case decision and determines whether the child is safe in your custody or whether your child should be removed. During this investigation, CPS may speak with the child, family members, school officials, neighbors, employers, or other persons that may have information about the allegations in the report. If CPS determines that your child is not safe in your custody, CPS may file a petition to remove your children from your custody. If CPS deems you inappropriate to care for your child, CPS may give you the option of allowing other family members to provide care. Prior to making any decisions about the custody of your child and prior to agreeing to complete services requested by CPS, it is imperative that you speak with an attorney about your rights as a parent.

When Child Protective Services completes an investigative assessment on a family that has been reported to the agency, the agency must determine whether there is one or more persons responsible for abusing or seriously neglecting a child. In most CPS situations, parents are the persons deemed responsible for the abuse, neglect or abandonment of a child. However, in some unique situations, persons other than parents can be held accountable for the serious neglect or abuse of a child.

Responsible Individuals List

If CPS determines that a person has seriously neglected or abused a child, the agency is mandated by the State of North Carolina to place the "perpetrator" on the state wide responsible individuals list. As of right now, the RIL list is not available to anyone in the general public. However certain agencies have automatic access to the list, and other organizations can request information about whether a person is on the RIL list. If a person is placed on the list, there could be severe consequences. If you have received notice from CPS that the agency has identified you as a perpetrator in an investigation, you need to obtain immediate legal advice to discuss the consequences of being placed on this list and your right to appeal the agency's decision.

The consequences for being placed on the RIL list may prevent a person from:

            working in certain fields, such as child care or teaching
            coaching children in school sponsored or state and private
            sponsored extracurricular sports
            becoming a foster parent
            adopting a child

If you are named as a responsible person and added to the RIL list, it is imperative that you speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. The appeal process to be removed from the RIL list can be complicated. More importantly, there is a limited amount of time for the person to appeal the RIL decision.

How We Can Help

We have years of experience representing court-appointed and private clients in Abuse, Neglect and Dependency matters.  We have represented parents and relatives in both court proceedings and during the investigative and assessment stages CPS cases.  Our experience dealing with these matters puts your family in great hands.

Contact us immediately for legal advice and representation in Child Protective Services investigations and for Judicial Review of Responsible Individuals List hearings.

Representing clients in Child Protective Services, Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency, and Responsible Individuals List cases throughout North Carolina in cities including Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Garner, Morrisville, Knightdale, Apex, Wake Forest, Smithfield, Louisburg, Oxford

Wake County, Durham County, Granville County, Franklin County, Nash County, Johnston County, Harnett County, Chatham County, and Orange County.