The Northeastern University Prisoners` Rights Clinic represents Massachusetts state prisoners at parole hearings for prisoners serving lengthy second-degree life sentences. Child Protection Services (CPS) – a government agency – is authorized to investigate allegations of child abandonment, child abuse and child neglect within the family. Depending on what the CPS finds in its investigation, the state can file a petition with the juvenile court requesting that the child be „dependent“ on Washington State. If the request is granted, the state is the child`s legal guardian and a legal procedure called a dependency action begins. The court then decides where the child lives and who is the child`s guardian during the period of care. Addiction is supposed to be temporary and give parents the opportunity to resolve the issues that led to the addiction. If the parents of a dependent child do not resolve the issues that caused the dependency, the state can file a request for permanent deprivation (termination) of your parental rights. A „transfer agreement“ or „waiver form“ is a legal document filed with the court that states that you voluntarily and permanently give up your parental rights and give your child up for adoption. It must be filed in court, reviewed and signed by a judge. It is very important to talk to your lawyer before signing this type of document. If you choose to sign a waiver or waiver agreement, you cannot add terms to the agreement.

However, you can request that your child be adopted by a specific person. If you want to continue to have contact with your child after adoption, you will need to attach another legal document, often called an open adoption agreement. (The current title of this document is „Agreement on Communication and Contact between Biological Parents, Adopted Child and Adoptive Parents“ or „Order Concerning Communication and Contact between Biological Parents, Adopted Children and Adoptive Parents.“) Note that open adoption agreements only apply to adoptive parents who have signed the agreement. You should follow the open adoption agreement as closely as possible, as any violation on your part will usually invalidate the open adoption contract, meaning that adoptive parents will no longer have to comply with it. Most open adoption agreements give adoptive parents the power to terminate a visit, approve who is participating, restrict the posting of photos on social media. In Washington, you cannot cancel a waiver or waiver agreement, even if the adoptive parents choose not to follow the open adoption agreement. It is very important to talk to your lawyer about your options. A petition to decide parentage is a judicial measure to determine who is or is not the legal parent of a child. This petition can be used to establish or revoke parentage (so you can also „contest paternity“ after being served with a child support or order – see the „Child Support“ section later in this memo). The current legal parent can file a petition to decide parentage, just like someone who believes they should or shouldn`t be the child`s other legal parent.

An attorney may also file this motion to receive support from the other parent. Assaults: Diggs v MiciThe plaintiffs are seeking damages for injuries sustained during a period of retaliation against prisoners and injunctive relief to prevent such cruel treatment from being inflicted again. The LAMP clinic offers inmates assistance with all kinds of legal issues. LAMP cases range from lawsuits to stop abuse of inmates to assisting an inmate in a divorce or writing a will. This website was created based on feedback from families to provide information and support to anyone with a loved one in contact with the justice system. Legal Voice provides free legal information on a variety of legal issues, including family law. Translations available for many publications. Call or write to get free copies or download from our website. By mail: 907 Pine Street, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98101 PLS is actively working to support laws that strengthen the protection of prisoners` rights in Massachusetts.

Our staff regularly speak at public hearings and work closely with legislators to make meaningful legislative changes.