Legal Representation When Agencies Get Involved

Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC provides child protection representation for parents and guardians in St Cloud and Apple Valley and throughout Minnesota.

When child protection services become involved with your family in St Cloud, Apple Valley, or anywhere in Minnesota, you face court hearings that can result in changes to your custody, visitation rights, or parenting time. These cases move quickly, with hearings scheduled on timelines that do not account for how overwhelming the process feels. Parents often receive notice of a CHIPS petition and must respond within days, not weeks.

Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC represents parents and guardians in child protection proceedings throughout Minnesota juvenile courts. The firm handles CHIPS matters, emergency protective care hearings, and permanency reviews with attention to preserving parental rights while addressing the concerns raised by county agencies. Each case requires understanding both the statutory framework and the specific allegations that triggered agency involvement.

If you are facing a child protection matter in St Cloud, Apple Valley, or elsewhere in Minnesota, contact Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC to discuss your case and the court timeline ahead.

What Happens During Child Protection Court Proceedings

Child protection cases in St Cloud, Apple Valley, or anywhere in Minnesota begin with a petition filed by the county attorney alleging circumstances that place a child in need of protection or services. You will attend an initial hearing where the court explains the allegations, determines whether temporary custody orders are needed, and sets a schedule for future hearings. Your attorney reviews discovery materials including caseworker reports, police records, and medical or school documents that form the basis of the allegations.

After legal representation begins, you will see how your attorney addresses each allegation with factual responses, prepares you for testimony, and negotiates case plans that address safety concerns without unnecessary restrictions. The goal is to keep you involved in your child's life while satisfying the court's requirements. Some cases resolve through agreed orders, while others proceed to contested trials.

Child protection matters often involve multiple hearings over several months, with each appearance addressing compliance with court-ordered services, visitation reports, and progress toward reunification or other permanency goals. The firm represents clients statewide and coordinates with local courts and agencies regardless of where the case originates. Understanding the process early helps you meet deadlines and avoid outcomes that become harder to reverse later.

Parents facing child protection cases often have questions about their rights, the timeline, and what the court can order. These answers address the most common concerns that come up before and during representation.

You probably have questions about what to expect

A CHIPS petition does not automatically terminate your rights, but it does ask the court to supervise your family and may result in temporary changes to custody or visitation. Your attorney works to prevent the case from escalating to termination proceedings.
What does a CHIPS petition mean for my parental rights?
Initial hearings are typically scheduled within days of the petition being filed, and subsequent hearings follow statutory timelines that vary depending on the type of order requested. You need representation as soon as you receive notice to prepare effectively.
How quickly do child protection hearings happen?
You can contest the proposed case plan at a hearing, and your attorney can argue for modifications that address safety concerns without imposing unnecessary requirements. The court has discretion to approve, modify, or reject the plan.
What happens if I disagree with the agency's case plan?
Emergency custody is authorized when the county believes a child faces immediate harm and there is no time for a hearing first. You have the right to a hearing within a few days to challenge the removal and present evidence that the child can safely return home.
Why does the county take children into emergency custody?
A CHIPS case seeks court oversight and services to address safety concerns, while a termination case seeks to permanently end parental rights. CHIPS cases can lead to termination if the issues are not resolved within statutory timeframes, which is why early and effective representation matters.
What is the difference between a CHIPS case and a termination case?

Child protection cases carry consequences that affect your relationship with your children for years, and the decisions made in early hearings shape the options available later. Abedi Hanson Sletten PLLC represents parents and guardians in St Cloud and Apple Valley and throughout Minnesota in juvenile court matters involving agency intervention. Reach out to discuss your case and the steps that come next.