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How Can I Deal with a False Accusation of Child Abuse?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Facing false accusations of child abuse can be taxing. To have the best chance of proving your innocence, you may do well to remain calm and call a lawyer right away. With the information you provide, a skilled lawyer can help you to devise an effective strategy for proving your innocence. If you are accused of abusing your own child, having a pediatrician examine him for signs of abuse may also prove helpful.

In the event that you have been falsely accused of child abuse, it is usually very important to remain calm and avoid emotional outbursts. This may be difficult to accomplish in such an emotionally charged situation, but if you do not maintain control, your accusers may use your emotional display against you. They might assert that you have anger-management problems or poor impulse control. If there are witnesses to your outburst, their statements about your emotional display could be used against you as well.

Pediatricians can be asked to examine a child for signs of abuse.
Pediatricians can be asked to examine a child for signs of abuse.

Your first step in dealing with false accusations of child abuse may best be seeking the help of an attorney who has experience with these types of cases, and you might be best served by doing this right away. To help him be most effective, it makes sense to provide the lawyer with as much information as possible regarding your case. This should include the name and age of the child involved as well as information about how you know the child. The lawyer will also need information about your accuser as well as the person who informed you of the accusation.

A person facing false accusations of child abuse may request to have the child examined in their presence.
A person facing false accusations of child abuse may request to have the child examined in their presence.

If you are facing false accusations of child abuse that involve your own son or daughter, you may consider having him or her examined in your presence for bruises or other signs of abuse. For example, you can take your child to a pediatrician and ask him to examine the child for signs of abuse. If none are found, the doctor's report might help you and your attorney prove your case. If the doctor does find wounds that you did not inflict, such as a scraped knee, you can explain them to the physician during the visit.

False accusations of child abuse can be life-changing.
False accusations of child abuse can be life-changing.

It also generally is a good idea to avoid any further action without the advice of your lawyer. False accusations of child abuse can be life changing, and making a mistake with your case could impair your ability to prove your innocence. As such, you may best help your case by following your attorney’s advice when it comes to answering questions regarding the case, providing evidence or information to people who are not on your legal team, and having contact with the child in question. For example, it may be best to avoid agreeing to psychological examinations and home studies without your attorney’s approval.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

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    • Pediatricians can be asked to examine a child for signs of abuse.
      By: Magalice
      Pediatricians can be asked to examine a child for signs of abuse.
    • A person facing false accusations of child abuse may request to have the child examined in their presence.
      By: Darren Baker
      A person facing false accusations of child abuse may request to have the child examined in their presence.
    • False accusations of child abuse can be life-changing.
      By: soupstock
      False accusations of child abuse can be life-changing.