Last updated: November 5, 2026
These Terms of Service govern your use of parentdefenseca.com (the “Site”) and the services offered through it. The Site is operated by Parent Defense California, a California law practice whose supervising attorney is Dylan Colbert (California State Bar No. 328936). “Parent Defense California,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to that practice.
The Site describes two different services, and they are not the same thing. Full representation is attorneys-of-record work: appearing in court, filing the papers your case requires, and advocating for you at hearings. The membership is a limited-scope advisory service: attorney guidance, case review, and strategy while you lead your own case. Which one you receive depends entirely on which written agreement you sign.
By using the Site, you agree to these Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
Full representation is offered by case review only, and only to parents with juvenile dependency cases in California. It is provided under a signed Flat Fee Full Representation Agreement, which sets out the scope of the representation, the flat fee, the payment schedule, the costs that are not included in the fee, and any travel surcharge.
Under that agreement, Parent Defense California serves as your attorney of record in the dependency proceeding described in it. That includes appearing at required hearings, in person or by approved remote appearance, and preparing and filing the papers the representation requires. Matters outside the scope stated in that agreement — appeals and writ proceedings, adoption or guardianship, and related criminal, family law, immigration, probate, or civil matters — require a separate written agreement and separate fees.
The membership is a separate service offered at $759 per month. It gives you direct access to a licensed California dependency attorney who reviews your case materials, answers your questions, and helps you build and carry out your own strategy.
Like all limited-scope engagements under California Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2(b), the membership is narrower than full representation. Under the membership, your attorney does not appear in court on your behalf, does not file documents or a notice of representation for you, and does not act as your attorney of record with the county, opposing counsel, or the court. You remain responsible for the parts of your case that you handle yourself. The exact scope of the membership is set out in the limited-scope agreement you sign when you enroll.
Reading the Site, sending a message through the chat, booking a consultation, or paying for a membership does not by itself make us your attorneys, and information you send us before an agreement is signed is not privileged in the same way as a communication with your lawyer. An attorney-client relationship is formed only when you and the firm sign a written agreement — either a Flat Fee Full Representation Agreement or a membership limited-scope agreement — and, for the membership, when your first payment is made.
The content on this Site is attorney advertising and general information about California dependency practice. It is not legal advice about your case, and it is not a substitute for a consultation with a licensed attorney who has reviewed your facts. Any description of services, process, or possible outcomes is general in nature. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and client experiences described on the Site are individual experiences, not promises about what will happen in your case.
Full representation. The flat fee, the payment schedule, and any travel surcharge are set out in your signed agreement. The fee is earned as the representation proceeds, and if the representation ends before the agreed services are complete, you may request a refund of the portion of the fee that has not been earned, calculated as described in your agreement. Third-party costs such as filing fees, expert fees, records, transcripts, and interpreters are not included in the flat fee.
Membership. The membership is $759 per month and renews automatically each month until you cancel. You may cancel at any time through our cancellation form at /cancel-membership or by emailing dylan@parentdefenseca.com. To avoid the next scheduled charge, cancel at least three (3) days before your renewal date. If you cancel within three (3) days of your renewal date, that renewal will still be processed, your cancellation will take effect at the end of that final month, and no further charges will be made. You keep access to the membership through the end of the period you have already paid for. If your attorney does not help you prepare for your first hearing, you may request a refund of your first month’s payment.
Your membership may be interrupted if your payment card expires or is declined. Please keep your payment details current. Fees for future months may change, and we will give you reasonable advance notice before any change applies to you; you may cancel before it takes effect.
If a dispute arises over fees or costs, you may have the right to require arbitration under the Mandatory Fee Arbitration Act, California Business and Professions Code sections 6200 through 6206, before the State Bar of California or a local bar association program.
The Site and our services are offered to adults (18 years of age or older) with juvenile dependency matters pending in California courts. We do not accept matters in other states, and we do not provide advice on the law of any other jurisdiction. If your case is outside California, please contact a licensed attorney in your state.
When you give us your contact information, you agree that we may contact you about your inquiry, your case, or your membership by email, phone, or text message at the numbers you provide, including through automated systems. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out of marketing calls, texts, or emails at any time by replying STOP, using the unsubscribe link in an email, or telling us directly; we may still contact you about an active matter or membership. Please keep your contact information current.
How we collect, use, and protect your information is described in our Privacy Policy, which is part of these Terms. Please use the secure chat on the Site for sensitive case documents rather than ordinary email, which can be intercepted. Our obligations of confidentiality to clients are governed by the California Rules of Professional Conduct and by your written agreement with the firm.
You may use the Site for your own personal, non-commercial purposes. You agree not to interfere with the Site’s operation, attempt to access it in an unauthorized way, submit false information, or use it to harass anyone. We may change, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Site at any time. Content on the Site is owned by Parent Defense California and may not be copied or republished without our written permission. Links to other websites are provided for convenience; we do not control and are not responsible for their content.
The Site and its content are provided “as is.” To the extent permitted by law, Parent Defense California is not liable for any loss arising from your reliance on general information published on the Site, from your inability to access the Site, or from services provided by third-party websites. Nothing in these Terms limits the duties the firm owes you under a signed engagement agreement, the California Rules of Professional Conduct, or applicable law, and nothing in these Terms requires you to waive any right you have as a client.
We may update these Terms from time to time. The current version is always posted on this page with its effective date, and material changes will be communicated by email to active clients and members or by a notice on the Site. If you continue to use the Site or your membership after an update takes effect, you accept the updated Terms. The terms of a signed engagement agreement control the representation itself.
Questions about these Terms can be sent to dylan@parentdefenseca.com or by phone at (510) 852-9221. Our mailing address for legal notices is available on request.