Child Protection Lawyers
Melbourne, Ballarat & Rural Victoria.
TP Legal & Associates is committed to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring they are nurtured and supported in a safe living environment. Our Children’s Court lawyers strongly believe in family connectedness, with our aim always being to keep children with their families, cultures, and communities.
With our 25 years of experience specialising in child protection and our passion for advocating children’s rights and safety, you can be assured that our child protection lawyers will thoroughly guide you throughout the entire process, provide detailed advice specific to your case, and ensure you are being treated fairly to give you the best chance of keeping your family together.
We pride ourselves on making the best decisions for our youngest clients and are dedicated to providing expert child protection advice and children’s court representation for family division matters involving children.
Our Services
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) receives child neglect and abuse reports and is obliged to investigate. After investigation, if they believe intervention is necessary, DFFH will apply with the Children’s Court.
Our Children’s Court lawyers are ready to represent you in relation to these applications. We represent children, parents, step-parents, and carers. Our expert knowledge and experience with child protection help us approach each case with better understanding and compassion, resulting in more effective interaction and communication when compared to most law firms.
Child Representation
Child Protection Guidance
Our child protection lawyers are committed to assisting vulnerable families to navigate the confusing and confronting legal procedures involving DHHS and child protection services.
We help aid in initial investigations and communicating with Child Protection workers. We also handle child protection matters involving indigenous families, ensuring they receive access to justice.
Children’s Court Applications
Child protection services may start a court case by filing for a child protection application if they believe your child is in danger.
Our child protection lawyers can assist you with all applications and orders, including:
- Protection Applications by Emergency Care
- Protection Applications by Notice
- Family Preservation Orders
- Family Reunification Orders
- Long-Term Care Orders
- Permanent Care Orders
- Care by Secretary Orders
- Therapeutic Treatment Orders
- Case Plan Reviews
Children’s Court Representation
A DHHS investigation may bring proceedings before the Children’s Court.
Our Children’s Court lawyers will assist you with each stage of your court cases, including:
- Mention Hearings
- Conciliation Conferences
- Readiness Hearings
- Interim and Final Contests
Child Representation
Children Under 10 Years Old
If a child is under 10 years of age, the children’s court may appoint an independent child protection lawyer to read all associated materials and make a decision based on the best interests of the child.
Our careful attention to detail and wealth of expertise is well known in the industry, hence Victoria Legal Aid often refers children under 10 to our children’s court lawyers for support.
Children 10 Years or Older
If a child is over 10 years of age, they take an instruction-based approach, telling our child protection lawyers what they want to happen in the children’s court.
A number of our lawyers are parents themselves and therefore have an innate ability to make our younger clients feel comfortable, understood, and heard.
Parent and Carer Representation
At TP Legal & Associates, we strongly advocate for children to maintain a connection with their families and caregivers where possible. Our children’s court lawyers will fight for your and your child’s rights.
If we’re representing you as a parent or carer, we act for you and your interests. If you’re not a parent and haven’t joined as a party to proceedings, our child protection lawyers can also assist in your application to join.
Why Choose Us
Compared to other areas of law, child protection law has a higher emotional stake for clients as they are dealing with children and families. To determine the best path forward, speak to TP Legal & Associates.
Here are a few reasons why you might wish to access our expert advice:
● We take into account the nuances of child protection cases in a supportive and compassionate manner.
● Decades of experience and knowledge mean we know how to handle sensitive and difficult situations that are synonymous with child protection.
● Legal aid is available for families that are unable to afford legal fees because we believe everyone deserves access to justice.
● Personal, tailored service that accommodates your needs and what value you will get from our service, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.
Get in touch with our child protection lawyers today.
We’re here to support our youngest clients
Based in Melbourne and Ballarat, our child protection lawyers service all courts within the metropolitan city and rural Victoria. We regularly travel to courts in rural areas to support and provide legal services to Aboriginal people and legal aid to underprivileged families.
Help us help you.