Private Dependencies
Oftentimes, family and friends are caring for children for an extended period without the legal means to care for them. Depending on the circumstances, a private dependency can offer a pathway to help ensure that you have the legal ability to care for them.
Another reason to file a private dependency is if you are concerned about the wellbeing of a child or children – you believe that the child has been abandoned, concerns for abuse or neglect, child is without proper parental care, the child is living in an unsafe/unstable situation. If reports to the Department of Child Safety (DCS) haven’t caused them to intervene, this pathway can provide an important alternative to ensure the child’s safety and welfare.
