Minnesota Maltreatment Attorney

If you receive a letter from a county social services agency or from the Minnesota Department of Human Services stating that maltreatment has been determined, contact McGuire Law Offices immediately at (651) 468-2104. You only have 15 days to appeal this determination which can have lifelong consequences.

The Department of Human Services is the governing agency in Minnesota that deals with Maltreatment Determinations and Disqualification Determinations. If a finding of maltreatment or disqualification is made, without being appealed, your future employment may be in jeopardy. It is critical that if you receive a letter from a county social services agency informing you of a maltreatment determination, you must appeal right away as there are very strict deadlines to appeal. If you fail to request reconsideration in writing within the 15-day deadline or fail to request a hearing within 30 days after denial of said request, you forever waive your right to appeal the maltreatment determination and/or disqualification.

How to Appeal

First, you must request for reconsideration within 15 calendar days of receiving the county’s determination that maltreatment occurred. This must be done in writing. The county will then respond to the request for reconsideration and determine whether they adhere to their original decision or whether they will agree to reverse the finding of maltreatment. The county social service agency must reply to your request of reconsideration within 15 working days of receiving your request. If the county adheres to its original decision, you must request a fair hearing within 30 days of receiving the county agency’s response which must be sent to the Appeals Office at the Commissioner of Human Services. If the county fails to respond to your request for reconsideration, then you must request a fair hearing from the Appeals Office at the Commissioner of Human Services within 30 days of the date that the county’s response was due. The timelines are very strict and must be adhered by to ensure the appeal is not later dismissed for lack of timeliness or lack of jurisdiction.

If you receive a maltreatment determination and/or a disqualification letter contact Attorney Daniel B. McGuire today. McGuire Law Offices PLLC offers free consultations and will explain your options to you and further outline the appeal process. Call McGuire Law Offices PLLC today at (651) 468-2104 for a consultation.

Two young children, one lying on the ground crying with arms crossed over chest, and the other standing over him, in a playful or confrontational pose, on a gray indoor surface.