Quick Contact

In order to help you more quickly, please fill out the form or call (727) 525-0200. A representative of the firm will call you.

Firm News

Bay Area Law Firm:
"Anything but a boys club..."
-- Bay News 9, December 28, 2009
Watch the story, click here
  • November 5, 2011
    Sponsor of the St. Petersburg Bar Oktoberfest
  • September 23, 2011
    Sponsor of the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation 5K September 23, 2011
    ...More
  • 2011 Sponsor
    Pinellas Park High School Football Team
  • April 1, 2011
    Erin E. Wolfe appeared on WTSP 10 News
  • September 18, 2010
    BWRD sponsors the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation 5K
  • 2010 Sponsor
    Pinellas Park High School Football Team
  • Spring 2010
    BWRD aponsored two Little League Baseball teams at Northwest Youth Baseball
    • July 2010
    Erin K. Barnett is elected to the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation Board of Trustees
  • 2009 Sponsor
    Pinellas Park High School Football Team
  • Erin E. Wolfe
  • Erin K. Barnett
  • Julia L. Rice

Pinellas County DCF/Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights Lawyers

Defending Parents against Legal Processes Initiated by the State of Florida

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) or the local Sheriff's Office Child Protection Investigators investigate all allegations of child abuse or child neglect.  Based upon their investigations, the State of Florida can bring two types of legal actions against parents: 

  • Dependency
  • Termination of Parental Rights

Dependency Actions

As soon as DCF or local law enforcement contacts you, you should contact an attorney who can assist you during the investigation stage.  A dependency action is a legal process brought by the State of Florida.  If a parent is reported for suspected child neglect or child abuse, the child protection investigator must investigate the claim.  The investigation could lead to removal of the children from the family home and temporary placement in foster care.

If you are accused of child abuse or neglect in a dependency action, you need to immediately contact skilled, caring legal counsel to help you get your children back or to defend you against the allegations.  At Barnett Wolfe Rice, P.A., we are skilled in representing parents in these actions and are ready to aggressively defend you.

Termination of Parental Rights

The State of Florida can bring legal action to permanently sever parental rights so that a child becomes eligible for adoption. Grounds for termination of parental rights may be:

  • Abandonment or extreme parental disinterest
  • Abuse or neglect
  • Felony conviction/incarceration
  • Failure of reasonable efforts
  • Abuse or neglect or loss of rights of another child
  • Sexual abuse
  • Child's best interest
  • Child in care 15 of 22 months (or less)
  • Felony assault of child or sibling
  • Murder/manslaughter of sibling child

The following are conditions where an action might be brought, but are not grounds for termination of parental rights:

  • Alcohol or drug-induced incapacity
  • Failure to maintain contact
  • Failure to provide support
  • Failure to establish paternity

If your parental rights are being threatened, contact us today.  We'll fight to protect your parental rights.

Appeals

In Florida, an appeal is a complex and time-consuming matter, but it may be your LAST CHANCE for getting the outcome you want.

Unlike many other law firms, at Barnett Wolfe Rice, P.A. we have the experience, ability and desire to handle criminal and family (domestic relations) appeals.

If you think you need to appeal your case, CONTACT US immediately.  There are STRICT DEADLINES for filing an appeal, so you must act quickly.

Quality Representation You Can Trust When You Need It the Most

Call (727) 525-0200 or visit our Contact Us page for more information on how we can help you.

Our main office is conveniently located near the downtown St. Petersburg Courthouse, the Criminal Justice Center in Clearwater, and the South County Traffic Court in St. Petersburg. 

There is no fee for an initial consultation on criminal cases and the minimal fee for an initial family law consultation will be applied to your retainer.