Resources and information about legal issues relevant to appeals in child abuse and neglect, dependency, and termination of parental rights cases, including State and local examples.
Appellate Procedure: State Links
National Center for State Courts
Reviews appellate procedures in each State and provides examples of rules in adoption cases, juvenile justice matters, child custody cases, and more.
Fair Hearings and Appeals in Adoption Assistance
North American Council on Adoptable Children (2017)
Explains fair hearings, or adoption assistance appeals, as a process for settling differences between adoption assistance applicants or recipients and the agency that administers the program.
I Don't Like the Way Child Protective Services (CPS) Handled My Case. What Can I Do?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Children's Bureau (2018)
Explains State policies and procedures regarding investigations of child abuse and neglect and provides information on what parents can do if they are not satisfied with the way their case was handled.
State and local examples
Adoption Proceedings Benchbook: Revised Edition (PDF - 3,011 KB)
Michigan Judicial Institute (2018)
Contains detailed discussions of legal issues in adoption proceedings, including a section on rehearings and appeals.
Appeals
Minnesota Department of Human Services (2016)
Provides information on the Appeals Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, which conducts administrative fair hearings for appeals on child maltreatment determinations among other topics.
Appeals in Parental Termination & Child Protection Cases
Texas Judicial Branch
Discusses the process of appeals in parental termination and child protection cases in Texas and provides information on how appeals happen, timeframes, requirements, and more.
Child Protective Proceedings Benchbook, Fourth Edition: A Guide to Abuse & Neglect (PDF - 4,792 KB)
Michigan Judicial Institute (2018)
Explains required procedures in child protective proceedings, including information on appeals.
Child Protective Services: Appeals and Fair Hearings (PDF - 1,413 KB)
Virginia Department of Social Services (2014)
Discusses parents' rights to appeal a finding of child abuse or neglect. The brochure addresses types of information in the record that can be appealed, levels of appeal, and processes and procedures for administrative hearings and judicial hearings.
Child Welfare Appeals
Utah Courts (2018)
Explores expedited appeals in child welfare cases in Utah and reviews the appellate rules, where and when pleadings must be filed, which parties must be served with notice, and gives guidance to attorneys on these matters.
Hearings and Appeals
Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (2018)
Reviews processes for when adults have been indicted for child abuse and/or neglect and includes information on how to appeal, the appeals process, the length of the process, and links to additional information.
When Your Rights Have Been Terminated: A Guide to the Appeal Review Process for Parents (PDF - 180 KB)
Connecticut Office of the Chief Public Defender, Child Protection Division (2015)
Provides information for parents on how to file an appeal after parental rights have been terminated. The guide gives information on how long parents have to appeal a case, what happens during a case review, and more.