After the holidays, CPS activity increases. Reports delayed during December often land in January. In Suffolk County, ACS/CPS moves fast once a report is made. They are not neutral—they’re protecting the agency. What you say early matters. Silence, panic, or oversharing can all hurt you.
Contact Steven Zalewski, Esq. for guidance.

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Trial work is an art. You have to know what you’re doing, and there are serious consequences. That’s why people should ask lawyers directly about their real trial experience. Saying “I have 40 years of experience” isn’t the same as being able to explain how many of those years were in family law and how many cases the lawyer has actually tried.

In some parts of the state it’s handled in two stages (a finding and then a disposition), but in many places it’s handled in one. The disposition can range from an Extreme Order of Protection for up to five years to a Limited Order of Protection that could end in 30 days.

The seriousness of the case usually determines that. These cases also require actual knowledge of facts—not “someone told me.” And if you’re seeking an Order of Protection for a child, a child’s statements alone may be insufficient for the court to issue an Order of Protection.

There must be some type of family relationship, and that’s extremely important. For example: extended family like aunts, uncles, and cousins can qualify, and of course mothers and fathers (married or not) generally qualify.But boyfriends, girlfriends, or significant others usually do not, unless they cohabitate in some way. A common scenario is someone dated a person a couple of times and now wants an Order of Protection. Often, the police will direct them to Family Court, but once the judge asks about the relationship and hears it was only a couple of dates, the court may say it doesn’t qualify and they may need to pursue a different route (like going back to the District Attorney’s office). People can end up stuck in a loop and getting nowhere.

O-dockets are not criminal (and I want to repeat that because people often think they are). They’re designed for people who have a family relationship and they are meant to place a restriction on behavior. In plain terms, an Order of Protection can stop you from calling someone, going on their social media pages, posting about them online, going to their home, going to a child’s school, going to their doctor, or getting involved in any way. That’s called a “Stay Away Order of Protection.”There’s also a “Refrain From Order of Protection.” A Refrain From order means you can’t harass, annoy, or alarm the other person, but you may still be able to communicate with them or see them. These often come up when people work in the same building and it would be impossible to completely stay away.

If CPS threatens removal, remember: they need court authorization unless there’s an immediate danger. You have the right to an attorney at the first appearance and the right to challenge their claims. Holiday timing doesn’t reduce your rights—if anything, it increases confusion and fear, which CPS sometimes relies on. Get representation immediately to protect your family.
Contact Steven Zalewski, Esq. for guidance.

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In winter, neglect findings often involve leaving children alone, failing to provide safe heat, improper clothing, exposure to dangerous conditions, or impairment due to drugs or alcohol. Suffolk County CPS looks at risk, not intent. Even a short lapse—like leaving a child alone while warming up the car—can trigger an Article 10 case. Context matters, and these cases move quickly.
Contact Steven Zalewski, Esq. for guidance.

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If you’re with me, you will be heard. Your words will be heard by me, and I will take the time to understand how you feel.

That doesn’t mean you’re always right, and I’m never going to lie to you just to make you feel better. I don’t sugarcoat reality. What I do is guide you, tell you the truth about your situation, and help you move toward where you want to go in the legal process.

I’m Steven Zalewski. I’ve been an attorney for about 40 years and I’ve practiced in most areas of the law. My background includes criminal law, but for many years my primary focus has been family law.

I do this work because it has a direct impact on people’s lives. I’m very good at what I do, and I handle both private cases and public-sector cases, because I believe everyone is entitled to an attorney in family court who knows what they’re doing and knows how to be successful.

Family court cases have an element that no other cases have: human life. Parents, children, and grandchildren are all involved in the process, and the decisions made in family court shape their lives in very real ways.