Our family recently found ourselves involved with DCF. The day we got the call was honestly a nightmare. We knew nothing about DCF aside from what we heard in the news, but we learned really quickly that they can be extremely deceptive and DANGEROUS. The situation stemmed from a bitter custody dispute and ultimately ended up involving the DA’s office. We had a family law attorney and a criminal attorney. Neither of them wanted to, or were capable of helping us deal with DCF. Luckily, we got a recommendation from a social worker friend of ours for Mike Rich at The Law Office of Michael L. Rich.

From day one, Mike was extremely attentive, thoughtful, and calming in the midst of chaos. My first contact was via voicemail, and although he was traveling he got back to me that night. I explained our situation and Mike informed me of our rights, and how he should proceed. We decided to retain his services, and he sent us a brief questionnaire as well as a ton of resources we could use to research the process and rules/laws governing DCF.

Mike was there for our meetings with the DCF worker, and he was a relentless advocate for our rights. We also had Mike handle our DCF Fair Hearing. We were pleasantly surprised by his demeanor during the hearing. Mike is a gentleman, laid back, and very friendly but not the least bit afraid of confrontation when the situation called for it. It’s also worth noting that since he has been working with DCF for so long, he has a rapport with the hearing officers and other players involved, which I think helps ease the tension of the situation.

Mike was one of three lawyers we had during this ordeal (DCF defense attorney, family lawyer, and criminal). His billing practices were BY FAR the most transparent and fair. When he sends you a statement, the detail he puts into each one is almost unbelievable. He is very honest and upfront about the charges, and always asked permission to purchase transcripts and other necessary expenditures outside of his billable hours. Mike definitely restored our faith in lawyers after a few less satisfactory experiences.

My wife and I honestly can’t say enough good things about Mike. During one of the worst experiences of our life, he was definitely a bright spot. If you find yourself involved with DCF and are considering hiring an attorney, do not hesitate to call Mike at MichaelRichLaw.com.

Good luck, and god bless!

Mr. N. & Ms. R. B. (DCF Assessment and Fair Hearing representation) October 2018 to March 2019.

Thank you very much for your thoughtful, honest and comprehensive email response regarding our situation. My wife and I suspected we would not have any standing in this matter but our interest in seeing the child who is like a grandchild to us is so strong that we felt as though we had to try everything possible. Although we were hopeful there might be a path forward, my wife and I were nevertheless impressed with the time you took to draft a response and the empathy that came through in your email.

Thank you again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to provide us with this information based on your extensive experience in this area. The very positive reviews you received are clearly well deserved. We will keep you and your firm in mind and not hesitate to contact you should we have a need for representation in the future.

Mr. A. G. (free, brief consultation) February 2019.

Michael, Thank you for your fine candid advice and counsel. It made a difference in the outcome of the proceedings. You gave me information I used to convey to the court that convinced the judge to award temporary custody back to my kids. We had the right expert lined up based on your recommendation … but he was not even needed. Please know you made a difference in the return of our grandchild to her loving family. We thank you once again. Best regards,

Mr. S. G. (Care and Protection advice and referrals) October to December 2018

Mike recently helped us to successfully resolve a DCF case. We were very impressed by his professional knowledge and experience in handling our case. We feel so lucky that we picked Mike to represent us and appreciate very much for his help.

Mr. and Mrs. W. (DCF Investigation 51A representation) August to September 2018

It’s been a pleasure working with you. You are a great lawyer. Thank you so much!

Ms. H. G. (Representation as Plaintiff in Abuse Prevention 209A Order extension hearing) January 2018

Thank you for all your help! We did get a letter from [DCF] saying they unsupported all [the allegations] … . We’re feeling grateful and relieved. Thank you for being such a supportive element in this brief and nerve wracking adventure. Wishing you great continued success in your business of helping people!

Mr. & Mrs. D & S. E. (DCF Investigation 51A representation) October to November 2016