Division of Legal Services is the dedicated legal arm of the Missouri Department of Social Services, providing comprehensive legal support exclusively to the department, its divisions, and the state. It specializes in administrative law, litigation, fraud investigation, and child welfare proceedings, operating as an internal legal resource rather than serving individual clients.
The division is structured into four specialized sections—Litigation, Administrative Hearings, Investigations, and the State Technical Assistance Team—each focused on upholding program integrity, ensuring due process, and protecting vulnerable populations. Its attorneys and staff work closely with state agencies to defend departmental decisions, enforce child support, combat public assistance fraud, and support the investigation of crimes against children.
Services Offered
- Legal advice and representation for the Department of Social Services and its divisions
- Representation in Juvenile Courts for abused and neglected children cases
- Filing petitions to terminate parental rights
- Defense of foster care licensure and adoption subsidy decisions
- Representation of the Division of Youth Services in dual jurisdiction cases
- Administrative hearings for child support enforcement and modification
- Due process hearings for public assistance denials or terminations (Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance, MO HealthNet, Child Care Assistance, etc.)
- Nursing home eviction hearings for elderly persons
- Employee Disqualification List hearings
- Foster home license denial hearings
- Prior authorization denial hearings for medication or medical services
- Child care facility licensure disciplinary hearings
- Fraud and abuse investigations in public assistance programs
- Welfare fraud investigation
- Claims and restitution management
- Treasury Offset Program administration
- Personnel investigations
- Location and tracking of persons owing money to state agencies
- Background investigations and employee background checks
- Technical assistance and training for child fatality review panels
- Support for investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and internet crimes against children
The division operates statewide, supporting all Missouri Department of Social Services programs and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, law enforcement, and review panels. It emphasizes program integrity, due process, and the protection of children and vulnerable adults through specialized legal and investigative functions.
