The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in child welfare matters, including care and protection proceedings, children requiring assistance cases (CRAs), actions to terminate parental rights, state agency-sponsored guardianships, and any other child custody proceeding where the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a party or where the court is considering granting custody to DCF. In Massachusetts, both children and indigent parents have a right to representation by counsel in child welfare cases. See G. L. c. 119, § 29 and Dep’t of Public Welfare v. J.K.B., 379 Mass. 1 (1979). Representation is provided by a panel of private court appointed attorneys and by staff attorneys in offices throughout the state.
COMING SOON – Motion Bank
[If you are interested in coordinating or helping with this project, please contact Nancy Baratta, Managing Director, CAFL Administration.]