The Worst Mistake You Could Make in a Trial

The atmosphere of a trial court seems irreproachable, but you as a foster parent have an integral part to play. Put it this way:

If you had a duffle bag full of $100,000 in cash, would you blindly trust a government agent to deliver it to your bank?

Similarly, if you were about to go into labor, would you blindly trust a government agent to be your midwife?

Or if you were shopping for a car, would you blindly trust a government agent to test drive it and buy it for you?

Same with a house, would you blindly trust a government agent to inspect the house, make an offer, and purchase?

Of course not. That’s absurd.

You wouldn’t trust a government agent with any of those. I think it’s safe to say that you would then by no means trust a government agent with your child. If you have been convinced that you should blindly trust a government agent to handle your foster child’s case, you have been duped… super-duper duped.

So, the worst mistake you could make in a trial is to blindly trust that the Department of Human Resources will properly handle your foster child’s case.

What if DHR tells me that I’ve got no other options than to blindly trust them to handle the trial?

Well that’s not true. There are several things you can do even without their consent or permission. So here’s what you can do:

· You can bring a Foster Parent Report to Court, along with a letter from our firm that explains the foster parents’ rights to be heard at every court hearing.

· You can file a Motion to Intervene and become a party in the current court action. As a party, you have the privilege of making arguments, presenting evidence, and cross-examining witnesses.

· You can even file a Petition for Custody. If clear and convincing evidence exists that the child’s best interest will be served by you having custody and nobody else, then why not ask the court to do that very thing?

· You can file a Petition for Termination of Parental Rights. Contrary to popular opinion, children should not remain in foster care past 12 months. It’s a foul wind that blows otherwise. Children need permanency and the runway is very broad that leads to termination.

In summary, the worst mistake you could make in a trial is to do nothing– to trust the government to responsibly handle the most valuable resource in all the cosmos: Imago Dei.

Looking for more help on what to do in court? Check out tips on giving witness in trial here.