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Pillai & Vandyke
(301) 555-0138
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After a petition is filed

When the agency asks a judge to decide.

A court case can begin the day a child is moved, or weeks after an investigation. The hearings come quickly, and each has a purpose. Knowing the purpose makes it easier to prepare.

We represent parents at every stage, from the first emergency hearing through the last review. We tell you what the judge will be asking at each one, and we hold the agency to its own plan.

What we handle

  • Emergency and first hearings after a child is moved

  • Trial, when the court decides whether the agency's claims are proven

  • Negotiating the case plan and visitation

  • Review hearings and requests to change the plan

  • Permanency decisions and appeals

Write to us
An empty hearing room with curved wooden tables and black leather chairs beside tall windows

The hearings, in order

Five stops, and what each one is for.

Names and timing differ from court to court. We walk through your own calendar at the first meeting.

  1. 01

    Step 1: First hearing

    The court decides where the child stays for now and what contact you have. This is the hearing to prepare for the earliest.

  2. 02

    Step 2: The trial

    The agency has to prove what it has alleged. You may agree, disagree, or settle on terms. Each choice has consequences we go through with you.

  3. 03

    Step 3: The case plan

    The court sets what you are asked to do and how often you see your child. A plan you can keep is better than a long one you can't.

  4. 04

    Step 4: Review hearings

    The judge checks progress against the plan. We bring proof of what you have done and ask for more time with your child when it is earned.

  5. 05

    Step 5: Permanency decision

    The court decides the long-term plan for the child. We prepare for this one from the first day.

About court cases

Do I have to attend every hearing?

Yes, unless the court excuses you. A missed hearing can be held against you, so tell us right away if work or transport is in the way and we will ask the court to adjust.

What if I disagree with the agency's plan?

You can say so, and you can propose changes. We put the request in front of the judge with the facts that support it.

Can I see my child while the case is open?

Usually, on terms the court or the agency sets. We work to widen those terms as you meet the plan.