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A CPS investigation can affect nearly every part of your life. Depending on the allegations, you may be dealing with Child Protective Services, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), family court, law enforcement, or all of them at once. In some cases, the investigation ends without further action. In others, parents find themselves facing emergency custody hearings, Dependency, Neglect, and Abuse (DNA) proceedings, or criminal charges.
For more than 15 years, Krsna Tibbs has represented clients throughout Louisville and Kentucky in both family law and criminal defense matters. Because these cases often move between family court and criminal court, Tibbs Law Office develops a strategy that addresses every part of the case instead of treating each hearing as a separate issue.
Not every CPS investigation begins because a child has been injured. Reports may involve allegations of abuse, neglect, unsafe living conditions, drug use, domestic violence, educational neglect, or concerns raised by someone who believes a child may be at risk.
Kentucky law requires certain professionals – including teachers, physicians, nurses, counselors, and law enforcement officers – to report suspected abuse or neglect. Reports may also come from neighbors, relatives, former spouses, or anonymous callers. Once a report is accepted, CPS has a duty to investigate whether additional action is necessary.
Every investigation is different, but CPS commonly interviews parents, children, relatives, teachers, medical providers, and other individuals connected to the family. Investigators may visit the home, review school or medical records, request drug testing, or recommend a temporary safety plan while the investigation continues.
Information gathered during those interviews often becomes part of later court proceedings. When criminal allegations are involved, the same information may also be reviewed by law enforcement and prosecutors.
If CPS believes family court should become involved, the agency may file a Dependency, Neglect, and Abuse petition. Unlike a criminal case, the court’s primary focus is whether a child can safely remain in the home while the allegations are addressed.
Depending on the circumstances, the court may order temporary placement with a relative, foster care, supervised parenting time, counseling, substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, or other services. Some cases resolve quickly, while others continue through multiple review hearings over several months.
DNA proceedings move quickly, and decisions made during the first hearings often shape the direction of the entire case. Tibbs Law Office represents parents during emergency removal hearings, adjudication hearings, disposition hearings, review hearings, and proceedings involving reunification or custody. Preparing the case early allows time to gather records, identify witnesses, and respond to the allegations before temporary decisions become long-term outcomes.
Not every CPS investigation leads to criminal charges, but some allegations are investigated by both CPS and law enforcement. Parents may find themselves responding to a family court case while also defending against misdemeanor or felony charges in criminal court.
Tibbs Law Office represents clients accused of offenses involving:
Handling both cases together requires careful planning. Statements made in family court, interviews with investigators, and evidence presented during a DNA case may later become part of the criminal proceedings. Looking at the entire legal picture helps avoid decisions in one case that could create unnecessary problems in another.
Kentucky law allows emergency removal when investigators believe a child faces an immediate risk of harm. After removal, the court reviews the circumstances and determines whether temporary placement should continue while the case moves forward.
Placement may involve relatives, foster care, or another approved caregiver depending on the facts of the case. Temporary removal does not automatically lead to termination of parental rights, but early hearings often have a significant impact on future custody decisions.
Parents have the opportunity to present evidence, question witnesses, and respond to the allegations during court proceedings. Medical records, school records, photographs, witness testimony, text messages, and other documentation may all become important depending on the issues raised in the investigation. Building a strong case often begins long before the final hearing takes place.
CPS investigations sometimes arise during contested divorces or custody disputes. Allegations may be based on misunderstandings, incomplete information, or claims that are later shown to be inaccurate. Even when an investigation does not result in criminal charges, the process can affect parenting time, custody decisions, employment, and a family’s reputation.
Krsna Tibbs has represented parents facing allegations made during family court disputes and understands how closely these cases can overlap. Reviewing the evidence, identifying inconsistencies, and presenting the complete factual picture are all important parts of defending against accusations that may not reflect what actually occurred.
Allegations involving children sometimes lead to requests for Emergency Protective Orders (EPOs), Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs), or Interpersonal Protective Orders (IPOs). These hearings may affect where someone lives, temporary custody arrangements, parenting time, and other family court proceedings while a CPS investigation remains pending. Because protective orders often become part of the broader legal case, Tibbs Law Office approaches these hearings with the same preparation and attention given to the underlying family law or criminal matter.
CPS investigations rarely involve just one legal issue. A single report can lead to interviews with investigators, emergency custody hearings, DNA proceedings, protective orders, and criminal allegations within a matter of days. Addressing only one piece of the case often leaves other legal issues unresolved.
For more than 15 years, Krsna Tibbs has represented Kentucky families in both family law and criminal defense. That experience allows Tibbs Law Office to develop a strategy that considers how each court proceeding affects the next while working toward the best possible outcome for every client.
