Many people know what it’s like to have a bitter ex. If the relationship didn’t end on the best of terms, there might be someone running around your city talking about what a terrible partner you were for decades after the breakup. But eventually, we all have to move on, no matter how challenging that may be.
Unfortunately for one father, he not only has an ex-wife but also a bitter former mother-in-law to worry about. Below, you’ll find a story he posted on Reddit detailing how his daughter’s grandmother called CPS on him, as well as some of the replies invested readers shared.
This father thought he would never have to hear from his ex-wife and former mother-in-law again
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But when a social worker showed up asking about his daughter, he knew exactly who was behind it
Image credits: Image-Source/Envato (not the actual photo)
Image credits: NepOR_945
Later, the father shared a few more details about the situation
Child Protective Services are focused on the safety and well-being of minors
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Making a phone call to Child Protective Services is something that should be taken extremely seriously. It should never be done as a joke, for revenge or out of spite. Now, it’s not always possible to have solid evidence of mistreatment or neglect before reporting someone, but without valid suspicion, false reporting is simply a waste of time and government resources.
As far as what CPS is responsible for exactly, Stop It Now explains that they handle the assessment, investigation and intervention in cases regarding child ab*se and neglect. Because of this, they are focused almost exclusively on protecting minors.
Once a teenager has turned 18, they are free to move out of their parents’ house and seek other government assistance if necessary. But CPS has so much on their plate with children already that they aren’t meant to entertain phone calls about 23 year olds. If there was truly ab*se taking place in the home, the mother could have simply called the police.
While no parent ever expects CPS to be called on them, it’s still a good idea for them to be familiar with their rights if it does ever happen. Repro Legal Helpline notes that CPS will document all interactions they have with parents, so it’s important for moms and dads to know that everything they say and do may be used against them.
Parents are allowed to tell social workers that they would like to speak with their lawyer before signing any documents or before having a conversation with case workers, and they can tell CPS that they don’t want their kids speaking with them. But Repro Legal Helpline notes that, if the children are old enough to speak for themselves, the social workers will likely try to have conversations with them.
It is illegal to make a false report to CPS with the intention to deceive
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If the parent is innocent, and the claims made against them were false or unsubstantiated, it might be best to simply cooperate with the CPS workers and try to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Resistance can sometimes be perceived as guilt. But if you’re in a precarious situation with the law, you might be hesitant to answer questions.
Unfortunately, the woman in this story is not the first person to ever decide to call CPS as an act of revenge. And if you know that your ex called CPS on you, Varghese Summersett law firm says the first thing you should do is contact an attorney.
They recommend keeping quiet until you’ve consulted with your lawyer, and politely asking the social workers not to enter your home until they return with a warrant. Now, if you can prove that your ex (or someone in your life) made a false report, they might be the one facing criminal charges.
In the state of Texas, for example, Varghese Summersett notes that intentionally falsely reporting mistreatment of children is a state jail felony which is punishable by anywhere from 6 months to two years in a state jail facility. The guilty party could also face a $10,000 fine.
No matter how much resentment you hold for someone in your life, falsely accusing them of committing a crime is certainly not an efficient way to seek justice. We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Then, you can find another Bored Panda article discussing similar issues right here.
Readers found the mother-in-law's behavior laughable and shared support for the dad
Later, the father returned with an update confirming that his former mother-in-law knew exactly what she was doing
Image credits: wirestock/Envato (not the actual photo)
Image credits: NepOR_945
Once again, readers offered support for the dad
