Dependency Court

(239) 331-2999

If you are in dependency court, here is an explanation of the types of hearings held in dependency court in Naples, Florida:

Shelter Hearings

If your children are removed from your home, a shelter hearing will be held within 24 hours. At the shelter hearing, the judge will decide if the children can safely return home, whether the children should stay with a relative, or if the children need to be in foster care for a time. If the children do not go home, the judge will decide when, where, and how often you can see your children.

Judicial Review Hearing

Every six months, the Court will hold judicial review hearings. These hearings allow the judge to see how the progress is going on the case plan. The judge will review the case to see if anything else needs to be done. The judge will review where the children are living, how often your are seeing your children, and what services the family is receiving.

Termination of Parental Rights Hearing

The TPR hearing occurs after about nine months, if the Department of Children and Families (DCF) believes the children cannot safely return home. This can also happen if you don't follow the case plan, or if the judge decides it's in the best interests of the children never to return home.

If you are facing dependency court, contact Kristen Rodger for a consultation and representation.