Allegations of Child Abuse and Neglect are not uncommon in divorce or child custody cases. In many cases, these claims are completely unfounded and were fabricated solely for purposes of gaining a favorable decision from the court. Regardless of whether the allegations are true or false, you need a Manhattan Abuse and Neglect lawyer to help protect your family and reputation. If you are a victim of domestic violence, an experienced abuse and neglect lawyer can help guide you through this upsetting ordeal. Child Abuse and Neglect When an allegation of child abuse or neglect is made, it typically involves one of the following forms of mistreatment:

• Emotional abuse
• Malnutrition
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse

Not only can these allegations affect custody decisions, but they can also result in criminal charges being filed against the alleged offender. These charges may include assault or endangering the welfare of a child. If these charges have been levied against you, the Spodek Law Group may be able to help. Their team understands the damage these types of accusations can have on the relationship between a child and the accused parent. They also understand the serious legal consequences associated with these charges. In Manhattan and other parts of New York City, family court judges are reluctant to award custody to a parent that has been implicated in a child abuse case. These allegations can also have a negative impact on privileges like unsupervised visitation. It takes a lawyer with an in-depth knowledge of the family court system to help protect your parental rights. Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect If you have reason to believe that your child has been a victim of abuse or neglect at the hands of a former spouse, it is imperative that you act immediately. For the child’s safety, and your own, you need to make sure that all incidents of violence are swiftly and properly reported to the authorities. Parents who are victims of domestic violence often make the mistake of not reporting violent incidents. This can result in charges of neglect if the abuse continues to occur in front of the child. A Child Abuse and Neglect lawyer can walk you through the process of petitioning for an Order of Protection. In cases where abuse or neglect has taken place, there may be options to help avoid taking the case to court. If you choose to go that route, a seasoned family law attorney can help you work towards keeping your family intact. Child Abuse or Neglect Investigations In New York City, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) is the office that investigates allegations of child abuse or neglect. For those who reside in Westchester County or Long Island, Child Protective Services (CPS) is the investigating agency. If a representative of ACS or CPS reaches out to you about your child, you need to contact a Manhattan abuse and neglect lawyer immediately. A lawyer can explain that regardless of whether or not you are found guilty of the alleged abuse, the statements you make when talking to ACS or CPS can be misconstrued and used against you. How a Manhattan Abuse and Neglect Attorney Can Help Since 1976, Spodek Law Group has been working hard to help families just like yours deal with allegations of abuse and neglect. Our team can help you maintain a relationship with your child while also defending your rights as a parent. If you have been accused of abusing or neglecting a child, give our office a call today.

What if my attorney is dragging out the divorce?

Sometimes, people decide to find another NYC divorce lawyer because they think their existing attorney is dragging their feet. This can happen. In some cases though, it's not because of your attorneys fault. Sometimes, it can be that your spouse is being unreasonable, and as a result it's slowing the entire process down. Things like child custody, alimony, and property division, can take a while to settle. If your spouse is being unreasonable, it can delay the process - and you may think it's your attorneys fault, when it's truly not. If you feel your lawyer is dragging his/her feet, we encourage you to contact our NYC divorce attorneys today. Below are some common instances that can slow down your case

1. Spouse is taking ridiculous positions on child custody, not consistent with your children's best interest. Your attorney is trying to negotiate, but is not seeing success. In this case, it might be best to expedite - and ask a judge to make a judgement. Sometimes, parents who have no business asking for custody, may ask for it - because "they feel," they are entitled.
2. Your spouse is self employed. In this instance, your spouse might be playing games with his/her income, and underreporting it. This requires a forensic accountant to look at the situation - and means you will need to wait.
3. Property division can be difficult to negotiate. In states like New York, couples with a lot of property and assets, can be difficult to divide. In situations like this, it's important you realize it may not be your divorce attorney dragging his feet - it's just that the process takes time.
4. Your spouse's lawyer is creating problems on purpose, in order to bill his client more money. Some attorneys unfortunately misguide their clients and create "problems," in order to bill their clients for additional hours of work. They focus on making money, instead of focusing on their client's best interests.

If you believe that your attorney is dragging out the process, or if you're uncertain - we highly recommend you reach out to our NYC law firm today. Our attorneys can evaluate your case, and let you know if we see something unethical going on. While it's rare that an attorney will purposefully sabotage your case, it has happened in the past. That's why getting a second opinion can be extremely useful. If you decide that you simply want new representation, our NYC divorce law firm can take over any case, at any time.