Serving Omaha, All of Nebraska, and Western Iowa
CPS, DHHS & Juvenile Court
When CPS, DHHS, or the Juvenile Court system becomes involved in your or your family’s life, it can feel confusing, invasive, and scary. What may begin as a casual encounter with informal questioning by an agent of the State may trigger an extensive investigation, the filing of a petition in juvenile court, and numerous other consequences. It is important to consult with the juvenile law attorneys at Dornan Law Team to discuss your situation.
There are two primary types of juvenile cases. The first involves allegations of abuse, neglect, or failure to meet a child’s needs. This often begins when an initial assessment worker investigates an allegation that was made through the CPS hotline. The investigation may lead to voluntary services that do not involve the court system. Or the investigation may result in the submission of a sworn statement to the County Attorney’s Office, which leads to filing a petition in juvenile court. Either scenario could trigger significant consequences, including but not limited to having one’s name placed on the DHHS Central Abuse Registry, court-ordered services such as drug and alcohol testing, substance abuse and mental health evaluations or treatment, supervised contact with one’s child, random drop-ins into one’s home by caseworkers, or even the termination of one’s parental rights. Because of these severe ramifications, you should contact our attorneys immediately if you think you will be investigated for issues of child abuse or neglect.
The second type of juvenile case involves delinquent behavior by a minor child, such as being habitually absent from school or engaging in conduct that, if charged as an adult, would constitute a crime. This can also cause a juvenile petition to be filed and possible consequences include but are not limited to temporary detention at a youth center, probation, out-of-home placement in a secure facility, or commitment to a youth rehabilitation center. Again, it is essential to contact one of our attorneys if your child is facing involvement in a juvenile court proceeding.
Types of Juvenile Cases
There are two primary types of juvenile cases. The first involves allegations of abuse, neglect, or failure to meet a child’s needs. The second type of juvenile case involves delinquent behavior by a minor child, such as being either habitually absent from school or engaging in conduct that, if charged as an adult, would constitute a crime.
First type of Juvenile Case
This often begins when an initial assessment worker investigates an allegation that was made through the CPS hotline. The investigation may lead to non-court-involved voluntary services. Or, the investigation may result in the submission of a sworn statement being sent to the County Attorney’s Office, which leads to the filing of a petition in juvenile court. Either scenario could trigger significant consequences, including but not limited to having one’s name placed on the DHHS Central Abuse Registry, court-ordered services such as drug and alcohol testing, substance abuse and mental health evaluations or treatment, supervised contact with one’s child, random drop-ins into one’s home by caseworkers, or even the termination of one’s parental rights. Because of these serious ramifications, you should contact one of our attorneys immediately if you are or think you will be investigated for issues of child abuse or neglect.
Second type of Juvenile Case
The second type of juvenile case involves delinquent behavior by a minor child, such as being either habitually absent from school or engaging in conduct that, if charged as an adult, would constitute a crime. This can also cause a juvenile petition to be filed, and possible consequences include but are not limited to temporary detention at a youth center, probation, out-of-home placement in a secure facility, or commitment to a youth rehabilitation center. Again, it is important to contact one of our attorneys if your child is facing involvement in a juvenile court proceeding.
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“Legal proceedings are rarely enjoyable—they can be long, draining, and complex. That was exactly our situation when we brought a fraud case to Dornan Law.
Thankfully, their team stood by us every step of the way. While I wouldn’t wish to go through such a process again, I can confidently say that if I had to, Dornan Law would be my first call. They guided us to the successful outcome we had hoped for.”

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“This is the best law firm in Omaha!!! They fair with their prices esp. Because you get the best results not to mention very helpful! They take the time to talk to you, hear what you are saying!, and go to work for you!!! Not to mention very personable!! Great attorneys at a fair price!!”
