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Children in Need of Services (CHINS)

Home/Divorce & Family Law/Children in Need of Services (CHINS)
Children in Need of Services (CHINS)beharris2020-04-18T14:26:53-04:00

Frequently Asked Questions About CHINS

What does CHINS stand for?
CHINS is an acronym that stands for Children in Need of Services.

What do I do if my child is charged with a crime or my child is out of control?
CHINS Petitions are filed when a child is in need of supervision because he is habitually truant from school or runs away from home. A CHINS Petition can also be sought when a child’s behavior or condition presents a serious threat to his well-being or safety. In short, when a parent has trouble controlling a child, a parent can go to the Juvenile Court In the City In which they live to file a CHINS Petition with Juvenile Intake. An Intake Officer will make a preliminary decision as whether or not the case can go to a judge.

A parent needs to know that the Virginia Code requires that a person making a Petition has to have first tried to deal with the problem using resources other than the courts, such as counseling or other services. Generally, an Intake Officer will file the Petition if a parent has attempted counseling unsuccessfully and the child has gone to at least three or four counseling sessions. If the case involves a violent juvenile felony, the Intake Officer must accept the Petition. In the case of all other crimes, if they were committed by an adult, even if a serious misdemeanor or felony, the Intake Officer can refuse to process the Petition but must advise the complaining party that they have a right to present their complaint to a Magistrate. If the Magistrate finds probable cause for a crime, he or she will issue a warrant that is delivered to the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, and the Intake Officer is then required to file the Petition.

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    Nichols Law, Attorneys & Lawyers, Chesapeake, VA

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    Ralph E. Nichols, Jr., Esquire
    Law Offices of Ralph E. Nichols, Jr., P.C.
    1403 Greenbrier Parkway, Suite 150
    Chesapeake, VA 23320
    Phone: (757) 548-0232
    E-mail: ralphnicholspc@cox.net

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    The Law Offices of Ralph Nichols, Jr. P.C. provides family law, divorce and separation services, child custody representation, business formation and operating agreements, Wills, Trusts, Estate Lawyer services and more to the Hampton Roads areas of Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, Williamsburg and surrounding areas.

    Disclaimer
    I cannot answer e-mail questions due to a possible conflict of interest. For example, e-mails can come from various sources and to give advice in a dispute is a conflict of interest if conflicting parties contact me.
    The answers to these questions do not constitute legal advice, nor do they constitute the formation of a client-lawyer relationship, but are provided for general information purposes only and should not be understood as a substitute for personal legal advice. Therefore, until an attorney-client relationship is formed through a Retainer Agreement, visitors’ information may not be kept confidential, or prevent representation of an adverse party.
    Ralph E. Nichols, Jr., Esquire, a professional corporation. All rights reserved.
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