TARRANT COUNTY, TX
Criminal District Attorney
Department of Family and Protective Services
Department of Family and Protective Services
The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office has attorneys assigned to represent the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS, formerly CPS) for child protection cases in Tarrant County. Legal representation is provided for cases where DFPS has determined that abuse and/or neglect of a child has occurred. These attorneys work with child protection staff to determine what legal intervention is appropriate.
When legal intervention is necessary, a petition is filed seeking to name DFPS as conservators of the child. Once DFPS is named a conservator of a child, the lawsuit will remain pending for 12 - 18 months. These lawsuits can move in many different directions: family reunification, relative placement, termination of parental rights or permanent custody to DFPS. For cases ending in termination or permanent custody to DFPS, legal representation continues until the child is either adopted or turns 18 years old.