Contesting Child Protective Services Dependency Actions

Children have rights, such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, protection from physical harm and freedom from emotional abuse. When it is suspected that a child’s rights are being violated through abuse or neglect, Child Protective Services (CPS) will intervene to ensure the child’s safety.  The State of Washington has created the Parents’ Guide to Child Protective Services to help parents’ understand the process.  Parents are entitled to be represented by a lawyer if a dependency petition goes to court.