Top-Rated Child Abuse Lawyers Fighting for Children’s Rights — Justice for Kids
Experienced Child Abuse Attorneys — Dedicated to Protecting Abused and Neglected Children
Justice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, is led by an experienced child abuse lawyer team dedicated to protecting the rights of abused, disabled, and injured children. Our unique law practice offers comprehensive legal services for children in foster care and other child welfare settings, with a focus on personal injury and damages cases in locations including Chicago, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and throughout Florida and Illinois.
We also passionately represent children who have been sexually abused or are victims of sex trafficking, working tirelessly to ensure they receive justice, protection, and the support they need to heal and rebuild their lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do child abuse lawyers represent victims, alleged abusers, or both?
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At Justice for Kids, our law firm represents the victims of child abuse, not the alleged abusers. Our child abuse lawyers are committed to protecting the rights and well-being of abused children. We focus on helping:
- Children who have suffered physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Parents, legal guardians, or concerned relatives seeking legal help for an abused child
- Foster children or former foster youth impacted by child neglect or assault
We do not represent individuals accused of crimes against children, including child endangerment, domestic violence, or criminal charges involving an abused child.
Our role is to ensure that victims receive justice, safety, and support. If your child has been harmed or is part of an ongoing child protective services investigation, a child lawyer from our team will work to protect their legal rights through civil actions, not criminal defense. We focus entirely on the child’s safety, healing, and long-term care.
What types of cases does a child abuse lawyer handle?
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A child abuse lawyer can handle a wide range of legal matters focused on protecting children from harm. At Justice for Kids, we work on complex child abuse case types, including:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Child neglect and abandonment
- Child endangerment
Our team of child abuse attorneys and child advocate lawyers also assists with:
- Child disability lawyer cases, where children with disabilities are denied proper care
- Abuse and neglect in foster homes or group care
- Mistreatment by schools, care providers, or agencies
- Filing a child abuse lawsuit on behalf of victims
We help clients navigate investigations by child protective services and support families dealing with the long-term consequences of abuse. Every situation is different, and we adapt our legal strategy based on your child’s needs and legal protections under children’s law. If your child has been harmed, we’re here to help make things right.
How can a child abuse attorney protect the child’s rights and interests?
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A child abuse attorney plays a key role in ensuring that the child’s voice is heard and their legal rights are fully protected. At Justice for Kids, we do this by:
- Investigating the facts and gathering evidence
- Working with medical professionals and psychologists
- Filing a child abuse lawsuit against responsible individuals or agencies
- Representing the child in civil court or administrative hearings
Our children’s rights attorney makes sure your child is safe from further harm and gets access to needed services. We help with:
- School protections and special education services
- Counseling and trauma recovery resources
- Medical care and housing support
- Enforcing protective court orders when needed
Every child deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. As experienced child rights lawyer professionals, we handle every case with care, respect, and confidentiality. Your child’s future matters. We’re here to defend their rights—every step of the way.
Can child abuse lawyers help with false accusations of child abuse?
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Yes. At Justice for Kids, we understand that false accusations can be just as damaging as real ones. A child abuse lawyer on our team can help when:
- A parent or caregiver is wrongfully accused of abuse or child endangerment
- Child Protective Services opens a case without sufficient evidence
- False claims are made in family custody battles or heated domestic violence situations
While we typically represent victims, we also help clear up cases where the child is caught in a harmful or confusing process. Here’s how we help:
- Gather documents, medical reports, and witness accounts
- Respond to investigations and file legal motions
- Ensure the child’s perspective is considered fairly
- Advocate for reunification or case dismissal when appropriate
In every situation, we remain focused on the child’s well-being. A child lawyer from our firm can provide honest, strategic help to protect both the child and the falsely accused person from lasting harm.
What is the role of a child lawyer in investigations by Child Protective Services (CPS) or similar agencies?
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When Child Protective Services (CPS) or similar agencies begin an investigation, it often means a child is suspected to be at risk of abuse or neglect. This can be overwhelming for any family, especially when there are serious concerns of child harm or possible criminal charges. A child lawyer from Justice for Kids helps protect the child’s safety, rights, and long-term interests throughout the process.
Here’s how our child abuse lawyer team supports children during a CPS investigation:
- We communicate directly with CPS to make sure the child’s needs are accurately represented.
- Our child neglect attorneys review reports and investigate whether agencies have followed proper procedures.
- If needed, we go to court to seek protective orders, monitor placements, or challenge unsafe conditions.
- We work with counselors, schools, and health providers to make sure the child is receiving proper care.
In cases where criminal charges are involved, our child abuse lawyer will stay focused on protecting the child’s rights without interfering in criminal defense proceedings against an accused person. We coordinate with authorities but remain firmly on the side of the child, making sure they are never re-traumatized by the system.
Whether CPS opens a case based on a real threat or a false report, having one experienced child abuse lawyer can make all the difference. We represent the child’s best interests throughout the entire process.
Even if there are ongoing criminal investigations, our law firm makes sure the focus stays on safety, healing, and truth. The stakes are high, and the emotional toll on the family can be immense. That’s why we commit fully to every child harm case—so no child falls through the cracks.
Specialized Legal Services by Compassionate Children’s Right Attorney
At Justice for Kids, we focus on helping children who have been hurt, abused, or neglected. Whether your child is struggling due to mistreatment in foster care, a disability that’s been ignored, or harm caused by trusted adults, we are here to support your family with care and legal strength.
Lawyer for Abused & Injured Kids
When a child is physically or emotionally harmed, it can be overwhelming for families to know where to turn. We provide legal services for children who have suffered serious injuries due to abuse, neglect, or unsafe environments. Our child abuse lawyers fight to hold responsible parties accountable, whether the harm happened at home, in school, daycare, or another care setting. If you’re a parent, guardian, or concerned adult seeking help, our child injury lawyer and child accident lawyer can guide you every step of the way.
Lawyer for Disabled Kids
Children with disabilities deserve protection, respect, and access to the services they’re legally entitled to. If your child has been denied the support they need, we can help. Our child disability lawyers and special education attorneys assist families facing school-related challenges, IEP disputes, and discrimination. We work closely with parents and guardians to ensure children receive proper care, support, and educational access. Let our IEP lawyer advocate for your child’s rights so they can reach their full potential in a safe and fair environment.
Foster Care Abuse Lawyer
Children in foster care rely on adults and agencies to keep them safe. Sadly, that doesn’t always happen. If your child—or a foster child you care about—has suffered abuse, neglect, or exploitation in the foster system, our foster care abuse lawyers are ready to act. We work to uncover what went wrong, hold the responsible parties accountable, and ensure the child’s future is protected. Our team understands how the foster system works and how to navigate complex legal processes on your behalf.
Children Civil Rights Lawyer
Every child has the right to be safe, educated, and treated fairly—regardless of their background or circumstances. When those rights are violated, we step in. Our children civil rights lawyers help kids and families facing discrimination, school discipline issues, unlawful treatment in state care, and more. Whether your child’s rights were violated by a school, agency, or authority figure, we are here to help. As experienced children’s rights attorneys, we work to make sure no child is left without a voice or legal protection.
Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Sexual abuse is a devastating crime that can affect every part of a child’s life. Our child sexual abuse lawyers work with care and confidentiality to support victims and their families. We represent children harmed by adults in positions of trust—whether in schools, foster homes, or other settings. Legal cases involving abuse are complex and deeply emotional, but you don’t have to face them alone. If you’re seeking justice for a child victim, we’ll guide you with strength, compassion, and legal experience.
Schedule Your Consultation with a Reliable Child Abuse Lawyer Today
If you believe a child has been harmed, it’s important to act quickly—and we’re here to help. At Justice for Kids, our child abuse lawyers offer legal support to parents, relatives, foster siblings, and others who care about a child’s well-being. We provide trusted children legal services for cases involving injury, disability, abuse, and neglect.
Whether you need a child rights lawyer or DCF attorney, we’ll help you understand your legal options. Please visit our website, fill out our contact form, or call us today to connect with a reliable Fort Lauderdale child abuse lawyer. Your voice—and your child’s safety—matter.
Why Justice for Kids Is a Trusted Child Advocacy Law Firm
Justice for Kids was founded by Howard Talenfeld, one of the nation’s preeminent children’s rights attorneys. For more than 25 years, Howard and his team have represented at-risk and foster care children and the developmentally disabled who are victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect in damages cases and personal injury claims.
Experienced Leadership in Child Welfare Law
Justice for Kids Partner and Co-Business Unit Leader Stacie Schmerling is a veteran child abuse case worker and investigator who has 10 years of experience working in the child welfare systems in New Jersey and Florida and has worked alongside Howard since 2008. Firm Partner and Co-Business Unit Leader Justin D. Grosz is a 25-year veteran trial lawyer and former Assistant State Attorney who focuses his practice on child safety, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and civil rights.
Millions Recovered for Victims of Abuse and Neglect
Our team of attorneys, which recently joined forces with Kelley Kronenberg, has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for abused and injured children.
Our attorneys have avoided state sovereign immunity damages caps and limits through the creative application of federal law to seek novel and successful results for children and their families. We have prevailed in individual cases, class-action lawsuits, federal civil rights claims and negligence claims on behalf of children abused, disabled and injured while under the care of state agencies and their contracted care providers in all settings, including foster homes, group homes, emergency shelters, residential treatment centers, and at home with their parents.
Long-Term Support Through Life Care Planning
The firm also provides life care planning guidance to children who have been permanently harmed and have been awarded damages from lawsuits or settlements with government agencies and their privately contracted care providers.
A Legacy of Advocacy and Public Service
The attorneys at Justice for Kids have a long legacy of public service and pro bono involvement. In 2014, Howard Talenfeld, who is the founding president of Florida’s Children First, co-chaired Citizens for Broward’s Children, the political action committee that fought for and successfully obtained the reauthorization of Broward County Children’s Services Council.
Our insight, experience and impassioned pursuit of damages claims helps ensure our clients’ rights and futures are protected. At Justice for Kids, our singular mission is to protect the rights of Florida’s most vulnerable children.
About Kelley Kronenberg — Over 40 Years of Comprehensive Legal Representation
Founded in 1980, Kelley Kronenberg is an award-winning, multi-practice national law firm with 500 employees, 235 attorneys, and 20 locations throughout Florida and the United States. We are privileged to represent large public and private companies, small businesses, and individuals nationwide. With more than 40 practice areas and growth on the horizon, we offer a comprehensive catalog of legal services to protect your legal interests in business and at home. Our firm is progressive and technologically advanced while remaining true to our customer service heritage: integrity, ingenuity, and sincerity. Ever mindful of our history but intensely committed to our future, we offer our clients a small firm feel with large firm resources. For more information, visit www.kklaw.com.