Find a DCFS Lawyer for Chicago and the Collar Counties

Cook County moves quickly

The Child Protection Division at 1100 S. Hamilton handles the highest volume of abuse and neglect cases in the state. Temporary custody hearings are typically held within 48 hours of a child being taken into protective custody, so preparation time is short.

Parents are entitled to counsel in juvenile court. Many families choose private counsel so their attorney has the time to investigate the allegations rather than meeting for the first time in the hallway.

Communities near Chicago Metro

• Chicago
• Oak Park
• Cicero
• Evanston
• Skokie
• Joliet
• Waukegan
• Schaumburg

How people search for DCFS help in Chicago Metro

Families use very different words for the same situation. In Illinois the agency is called DCFS, but many people search for “CPS” or “child protective services” because that is the term used in most other states. Whichever phrase brought you here, the process described on this page is the same one that applies to your case.

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Start with your situation

• DCFS wants to speak with me
• I received an indicated letter
• DCFS is going to court to remove my children
• Police contacted me about an interaction with a child

Common questions in Chicago Metro

Where are Cook County DCFS cases heard?

Cook County abuse and neglect cases are heard in the Child Protection Division at the Juvenile Center, 1100 S. Hamilton Ave. in Chicago.

What happens at a temporary custody hearing?

A judge decides whether there is probable cause and urgent necessity to keep a child out of the home while the case proceeds. It usually occurs within 48 hours.

Browse all Illinois DCFS questions