Albany County Office of the Public Defender Yorden C. Huban, Esq., Public Defender 112 State Street, 2nd Floor Albany, NY 12207 Phone (518) 447-7150 Fax (518) 447-5533

Family & Youth Courts

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Albany County Family Court
30 Clinton Ave, Albany, NY 12207 [map]

Hours: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Phone: (518) 285-8600
Fax: (518) 238-4344

More info on the NYS Unified Court System website External Site

In the family court arena, we protect the rights of clients facing allegations of abuse and neglect, and in vitally important custody and visitation matters.

Our work begins at the earliest possible point. Upon request, we will represent individuals at the first encounter with police or child protective services prior to the filing of criminal charges or a family court petition.

Are you being investigated by Child Protective Services (CPS)?

The Family Defense Unit (FDU) of the Public Defender’s Office may be able to advocate for you.

Call now to discuss your rights:
(518) 694-3560

What happens during a CPS investigation?

A CPS worker will try to contact you to discuss the complaint by coming to your home or by phone.
They may call people you know including family members, doctors, or teachers.
They may even ask your neighbors for information.
If CPS can’t reach you, they will try to speak with your child at school.
CPS will continue to do this until they are satisfied that no abuse or neglect has taken place.
Additional steps will be taken if CPS does find evidence of abuse or neglect. This could result in possible court action.

If you are being investigated by CPS, you have a right to:

Speak to an attorney before talking to a CPS case worker
Know what specific allegations are against you
Not answer questions unrelated to the allegations (if you do decide to talk to CPS)
Deny CPS caseworkers entry into you home—but that won’t stop the investgation. In some instances, CPS may apply to the Court for an “access order” allowing CPS with police assistance to enter your home
Decline consent for CPS to interview children—but CPS may interview children at another location, such as school or day care, without the parent’s permission
Decline consent to a drug test, drug evaluation or mental health evaluation
Decline to sign releases or consent forms allowing CPS to have access to confidential information.

Know Your Rights: Pre-petition Intervention Legal Services

You have the right to have an attorney before you speak to the Department for Children, Youth, and Families.

If you are the subject of the investigation, you have the right to be informed of the allegation(s) being investigated.

Unless under a court order, you are not required to speak to any representative of the Department for Children, Youth and Families
Any statement you do make may be used against you or any parent or caretaker under investigation in an administrative proceeding and many court proceedings!
You are entitled to have the advice of any attorney and to have an attorney present when the parent or caretaker is being questioned by a Children, Youth and Families representative
No parent or caretaker is required, unless court ordered, to permit any representative of Children, Youth, and Families to enter their residence
The parent or caretaker is not required, unless court ordered, to allow a Children, Youth and Families representative to interview a child.
Unless under court order you are not required to sign a release of information, take a drug or alcohol test, or submit to a mental health evaluation.

IMPORTANT: If a representative of Children, Youth and Families believes a child's life or health is in jeopardy, and there is insufficient time to obtain a court order, they may take action to protect the health or safety of a child, which may include removal from your home.

For pre-petition intervention legal services,
call the Albany County Public Defender Hotline
(518) 694-3560

PDF version of this information

Sepa Sus Derechos: Servicios Legales de Intervención Pre-petición

Usted tiene el derecho de tener un abogado antes de que usted hable con el Departamento para Niños, Jóvenes y Familias.

Si usted es el sujeto de la investigación, usted tiene el derecho de ser informado de la(s) alegación(es) siendo investigada(s).
A menos que esté bajo orden del tribunal, usted no está requerido a hablar con ningún representante del Departamento para Niños, Jóvenes y Familias.
Cualquier declaración que usted haga puede ser utilizada en contra suya o cualquier padre o cuidador bajo investigación en un procedimiento administrativo y en muchos procedimientos en la corte!
Usted tiene el derecho de tener el consejo de cualquier abogado y de tener un abogado presente cuando el padre o cuidador esté siendo cuestionado por un representante de Niños, Jóvenes y Familias.
Ningún padre o cuidador está requerido, a menos que esté bajo orden de la corte, a permitir a cualquier representante de Niños, Jóvenes y Familias a entrar a su residencia.
El padre o cuidador no está requerido, a menos que esté bajo orden de la corte, de permitir a representante de Niños, Jóvenes y Familias entrevistar a un menor.
A menos que esté bajo orden de la corte usted no está requerido a firmar un permiso de información, tomar una prueba de droga o alcohol, o someterse a una evaluación de salud mental.

Nota: Si un representante de Niños, Jóvenes y Familias cree que la vida o salud de un menor está en peligro, y no hay tiempo suficiente para obtener una orden de corte ellos pueden tomar acción para proteger la salud o seguridad de un menor, lo cual puede incluir remoción de su casa.

Servicios Legales de Intervención Pre-petición,
llame Defensor Público del Condado de Albany Línea Directa de Emergencia
(518) 694-3560

Versión PDF de esta información

For pre-petition intervention legal services, call:
Albany County Public Defender Hotline

(518) 694-3560

"Know Your Rights" flyer to print, post & share (.pdf)

Albany County, NY

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For pre-petition intervention legal services, call: