Q: Need legal advice regarding accusations against my son involving my granddaughter and police inquiry.

A: I presume that the police want to investigate an allegation of sexual impropriety by your son against your daughter's child (grandchild) and potentially, they are looking to criminally charge your son with an offense. Alternatively, based on the information provided, the police are planning to turn the matter over to DCPP for investigation purposes.

My suggestion is that you look to retain a criminal law specialist, since it sounds like it could result in criminal charges against him.

A: Unfortunately, once someone tells anyone about a possible sexual assault at school, joke or not its going to be investigated by the county prosecutors office and the victim child will be seen by a social worker or psychologist to determine whether it really was a joke or not. Having done many of these cases since physical evidence of a sexual assault is rarely present it will the girls word of what happened as explained to the psychologist using dolls and vague words if she is very young and the actual words and acts if older, that will be the evidence against your son. If they are questioning your son, they probably have already done this, and believe that they have enough information to arrest him so he should generally not speak to the police. That being said should he get charged he will not be considered to have been cooperative and the prosecutor will look at this in regards to sentencing. Thus, your son is in a complicated situation and should immediately hire a lawyer at least for a consultation. That being said expect to pay in the tens of thousands of dollars for a good lawyer to represent him for the case, if he is indigent a lawyer will be appointed for him, but only once he is charged.

A: More information is needed. How old is your son? Is he the father? Why do you have to bring him down? These matters are taken very seriously by the police and the prosecutors. They are investigating a case that can have life long affect with prison, megan's law registration and parole supervison for life. I would not attend an interview without an experienced criminal defense attorney.

A: I recommend that you consult with a criminal attorney for any criminal part of this matter. If there are domestic violence charges in Superior Court, Family Part, then you need to retain an experienced matrimonial attorney with extensive domestic violence trial experienced. Pick the best attorney you can find and remember one rule: a good attorney is generally never cheap, and a cheap attorney is generally never good so don't choose based on price. With modern technology, you can be represented by any high-quality attorney in New Jersey irrespective of geography.

A: This is an incredibly difficult and emotional situation, and your instinct to proceed carefully is the right one. If the police are requesting your son for questioning, it’s important to remember that he has the right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present before saying anything. Even if it feels like cooperating will clear things up quickly, any statement made without legal counsel could affect the outcome.

Before you bring your son in, you should reach out to a criminal defense attorney who has experience with sensitive family-related accusations. Many lawyers offer free consultations and can at least give you a starting point. If cost is a concern, you can contact your local public defender’s office or a legal aid organization. Explain the situation honestly and share any documentation you have, like your granddaughter’s note to the school.

In the meantime, try to keep everything as calm and neutral as possible within your family. Your son needs guidance, not judgment, and your granddaughter’s well-being should remain a priority as well. The truth will need to come out, but it must happen in a way that protects everyone’s legal and emotional safety. Being cautious right now doesn’t mean avoiding responsibility—it means handling things the right way.