Child custody
Divorce
Child support
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Youth Protection (DPJ) Lawyer guidance and representation for parents

Report, investigation, or court proceeding: our lawyers defend your rights as a parent at every step.

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The Youth Protection Directorate (DPJ)

Intervention by Youth Protection Services (DPJ) with a family can be a significant source of stress and worry for parents. Whether you are the subject of a report, called to a meeting, or involved in a court proceeding, it is essential to fully understand your rights and obligations.
Our firm supports and represents parents at every stage of a case involving the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse in order to protect their rights and help achieve the best possible outcomes for their family.

Have you received a call from a DPJ worker or are you the subject of a report?

A report does not automatically mean that a situation of compromised safety or development exists, or that your child will be removed from your care.

However, from the earliest stages of the process, it can be beneficial to consult a lawyer in order to:

  • Understand how a youth protection case unfolds;
  • Know your rights as a parent;
  • Prepare for meetings with DPJ workers;
  • Respond appropriately to requests for information the DPJ may send you;
  • Avoid mistakes that could harm your case in the long run.
Prompt intervention often allows the situation to be better managed from the outset.
Rapid response: whenever possible, we offer a preparatory meeting within 24 to 48 hours, particularly before your first meeting with a worker following a report.

Support During the DPJ Investigation

When a report is retained, Youth Protection Services (DPJ) may begin an assessment of the family situation.

During this stage, workers may notably:

  • Meet with the parents;
  • Meet with the child;
  • Communicate with the school;
  • Consult certain professionals;
  • Consult certain professionals;
  • Assess the child's living conditions.
We can support you in understanding the steps being taken and in presenting your version of events clearly and in a structured way.

Court Representation

In certain situations, Youth Protection Services (DPJ) may request the intervention of the court (Youth Division), including on an emergency basis.

The lawyer representing the DPJ may then make several requests, for example:

  • Keeping the child in the family environment;
  • Placing the child with one of the two parents;
  • Temporary placement of the child;
  • Parental access rights, including supervised access.
When legal proceedings are initiated, it is strongly recommended that you be represented by a lawyer to defend your rights and present the relevant evidence to the court.

Cooperation with the DPJ and Protection of Your Rights

Cooperating with the DPJ is often essential to the proper handling of the case. However, this cooperation does not mean you must give up your rights.

A lawyer can help you to:

  • Understand the DPJ's expectations;
  • Assess the proposed measures and the intervention plan;
  • Prepare for hearings;
  • Negotiate certain conditions and terms;
  • Enforce your parental rights;
  • Advise you throughout the process.
First Consultation

Is Youth Protection Services (DPJ) involved with your family? Don't wait: speak to a lawyer today.

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438-372-9577

Why Consult a Lawyer Quickly?

Decisions made in a youth protection case can have significant consequences on your relationship with your child and on how your case unfolds.

Getting legal advice from the start of the process often makes it possible to:

  • Better understand the situation;
  • Avoid certain mistakes;
  • Prepare your case effectively;
  • Protect your parental rights;
  • Improve the prospects for a resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions About Youth Protection

1. What should I do if the DPJ receives a report concerning my family?
A report does not automatically mean that a situation of compromised safety or development exists, or that your child will be removed from your care. From the earliest stages, it is crucial to consult a lawyer to know your rights, prepare for meetings with workers, and avoid mistakes that could harm your case in the long run.
At all times, you have the right to:
  • Be accurately informed of how the situation is unfolding;
  • Know your legal rights and obligations;
  • Be accompanied and represented by a lawyer;
  • Present your version of events clearly and in a structured way.
No. The law strictly protects the anonymity of those who make reports. The source of the report remains completely confidential, and you cannot, under any circumstances, learn the identity of the person who contacted the DPJ.
Decisions made by the DPJ from the start of the process can have major, lasting consequences on your relationship with your child. Prompt legal intervention helps you better manage the situation, prepare effectively for hearings, and improve the prospects for a resolution for your family.
Cooperating with the DPJ is often essential to the proper handling of the case, but it does not mean you must give up your parental rights. A lawyer can help you assess the proposed measures, negotiate certain terms of the intervention plan, and ensure your rights are respected throughout the process.

Is Youth Protection Services (DPJ) Involved With Your Family?

Report, investigation, or upcoming hearing: contact us for a first consultation with one of our lawyers, who practice primarily in family law and youth protection law. The sooner you act, the better your rights will be protected.
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438-372-9577

Nassou Diop

Legal Technician

Driven by the legal field, particularly family law, Nassou Diop brings her rigor, professionalism, and versatility to the Riendeau Avocats team.

As a legal technician, she supports the lawyers in tracking their files and handling all the legal and administrative tasks necessary for the smooth execution of mandates.

Organized, discreet, and empathetic, Nassou places great importance on the quality of customer service. Her active listening skills and dedication to a job well done make her a valuable collaborator for both clients and colleagues.

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Me Coralie Andende

Family law lawyer

Me Coralie Andende has been a member of the Barreau du Québec (Quebec Bar) since 2012 and joined our team in June 2026 as Lawyer – Team Lead.

Over the course of her career, she has developed diverse experience notably in family law, youth law, debt collection, civil litigation, and housing law.
Before joining our firm, she practiced for nearly eight years within a CIUSSS, where she gained in-depth knowledge of matters related to youth protection, children’s safety and development, as well as complex family issues. This experience allows her today to approach each case with a comprehensive, strategic, and pragmatic vision.

An experienced litigator, Me Andende represents her clients before the Court of Québec, the Superior Court, and various administrative tribunals. Her mastery of judicial procedures, rigorous preparation, and determination allow her to effectively defend her clients’ interests.

Recognized for her calm demeanor, attentiveness, and human approach, Me Andende prioritizes building a relationship of trust with her clients. She supports them with rigor and empathy in defending their rights, offering solutions tailored to their reality and ensuring effective management of their cases.

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Me Karen Godefroy

Family Lawyer

Me Karen Godefroy joined the Riendeau – Family Law team in January 2026. A member of the Quebec Bar since 2024, she is distinguished by her strong commitment to upholding human values.
Upon her admission to the Bar, Me Godefroy focused her practice on representing the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal in mental health law, where she gained extensive experience handling sensitive cases requiring legal rigor, discernment, and compassion.
Driven by a desire to practice in areas where people are at the center of the issues, she subsequently continued her practice in labor law and family law, developing hands-on expertise in these fields before joining the firm Riendeau Avocats.
Recognized for her human-centered approach, strong listening skills, and dedication, Me Godefroy places particular importance on understanding her clients’ needs. Her professional rigor and sense of responsibility enable her to provide strong representation in her cases while maintaining a relationship of trust with her clients.
Education and Professional Affiliations

  • Faculty of Law, Université Toulouse I Capitole – Master’s Level I
  • Faculty of Law, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour – Master’s Level II
  • School of Continuing Education, Université de Montréal
  • Member of the Quebec Bar
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Valérie Lafontaine

Legal Technician

A dedicated legal technician, Valérie graduated from Institut Teccart as a legal technician in April 2020, having completed her internship with the Superior Court.
Being naturally empathetic and having a strong interest in family law, she joined the Riendeau – Family Law team in September 2020.

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Me Marie De Santis

Family Lawyer

Marie De Santis is a member of the Quebec Bar and joined the team in May 2025.

Holder of a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in law, she completed her Bar internship with the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). Throughout her training, she was involved with multiple associations and legal clinics, specializing in family law, criminal law, and the law of persons.

Her multicultural background and openness to the world enrich her perspective on complex cases and enable her to support clients from diverse backgrounds with sensitivity, rigor, compassion, and respect. Her clients benefit from strong technical representation and attentive, personalized support at every stage of the process. Highly attentive to the general and specific needs of children, she ensures that each step of the process prioritizes their best interests and well‑being.

Her practice encompasses cases involving divorce, annulment of marriage, and separation, as well as matters related to termination of parental authority, parenting time, child support, and adoption.

Education:
LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws, Université de Montréal and Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas), 2022
LL.M. (Master of Criminal Law, Université de Sherbrooke), 2023
Comparative Law of African States and OHADA (Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal), 2020
Public and Criminal Law of Asian States (Keio University, Tokyo, Japan), 2021
Introduction to Criminology Seminar (Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas), 2022

Languages:
French
English

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Mélissa Belaroussi

Legal secretary
Mélissa Belaroussi is a legal secretary at Riendeau Avocats. Passionate about the legal field and known for her strong professional rigor, she supports the team of lawyers in managing complex cases. Her versatility and organizational skills make her a valuable asset in ensuring the smooth handling of legal matters within the firm. Always committed to providing excellent service, she works closely with clients and lawyers to ensure the proper conduct of legal procedures.
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Me Yann Yankey

Family and Employment Law Lawyer

Me Yann Yankey has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2021. Passionate about law and deeply committed to defending human values, he gained valuable experience right after his admission to the Bar by working on various labor law cases at the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST).

Driven by his desire to make a difference, Me Yankey naturally directed his career towards family law. He joined the family law team at Riendeau Avocats in September 2024, bringing with him an unwavering commitment to providing quality legal and emotional support to his clients with a human-centered approach. Specializing in child custody, alimony, and divorce cases, Me Yankey stands out for his attentive listening, strong writing skills, rigorous analysis, and calm demeanor even in the most delicate situations. With his wealth of experience, Me Yankey also handles cases in civil law, labor law, and uncontested adoption matters.

Beyond his undeniable legal skills, Me Yankey is known for his warm personality and human approach. His smile and friendliness make him not only a competent lawyer but also a very pleasant person to work with, providing his clients with reassuring and personalized support.

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Portrait professionnel de Me Rosalie Larouche, Directrice du département de droit familial, Avocate.

Me Rosalie Larouche

Department Head

Rosalie Larouche is the head of the Family Law Department.

Her focus includes family conflicts in the Superior Court, such as child custody, divorce, child and spousal support requests, as well as matters related to youth protection in the Youth Division of the Quebec Court.

Arts and music hold a special place in Me Larouche’s life. Before practicing law, she worked as Communications Manager for Jeunesses Musicales du Canada and later as Artistic Coordinator for the Concours Musical International de Montréal.

A member of the Bar since 2020, Me Larouche holds degrees in law from the Université du Québec à Montréal, in piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, and in cultural organization management with honors from HEC Montréal.

She serves on the board of the Festival de Lanaudière and is a member of the Association des Avocats et Avocates en droit de la famille du Québec.

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Portrait professionnel de Me Leila Nemouchi, Adjointe juridique.

Me Leila Nemouchi

Legal Assistant

With years of experience in administrative roles and customer service, Leila is an experienced professional dedicated to optimizing efficiency and client satisfaction. Her extensive background enhances our team’s commitment to providing superior quality service.

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Me Aurélie Messang

Family Lawyer

Me Aurélie Messang joined our team as a student-at-law and later as a family law attorney. Her practice includes handling divorce, separation, parenting time, child support, and adoption cases. 

Ms. Messang recognizes the sensitivity of family matters and will guide you through the process with care. Meticulous and attentive to client concerns, she is dedicated to fiercely advocating for your interests.

Education and Memberships:

Faculty of Law, Nancy (Master’s I)
Faculty of Continuing Education – Université de Montréal
Member of the Barreau du Québec
Languages: French

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Me Sofia Perez

Lawyer

Ms. Perez joined the Riendeau Lawyers team as a lawyer after completing her Bar internship. A graduate of the Université de Montréal, Me Perez practices before the Superior Court of Quebec, covering all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, alimony, and financial interests division.

In her practice, Me Perez stands out for her humane approach, attentive listening, and professionalism. Committed to safeguarding her clients’ interests, she will guide you towards sustainable and appropriate solutions for your situation.

Education and Memberships:

University of Montreal (LL.B)
Member of the Barreau du Québec
Languages: French, English, Spanish

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Me Ndeye Ndoye

Family and civil law lawyer

Ms. Ndoye joined the family team at Riendeau Avocat in January 2022. A member of the Quebec Bar since 2015, her experience and expertise are valuable assets to our firm, her areas of practice include civil law, family law, youth law, international law, and international child abduction.

Ms. Ndoye studied law in Africa, France, and Canada, earning multiple law degrees from universities on three different continents. This diversity has equipped her with solid knowledge in international law.

Over the years, she has successfully litigated significant cases in the Superior Court and the Court of Appeal of Quebec, covering civil law, family law, and international law. Dedicated to her clients’ interests, she consistently goes above and beyond to reassure them and provide the best chances of success.

Education and Memberships:
LL.L : University of Ottawa
PhD (Doctorate) in Law: University of Strasbourg (France)
Master’s in Law: University of Perpignan (France)
Bachelor’s in Business Law: Université Gaston Berger (Saint-Louis)
Languages: French, English

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Andréann Paquin

Legal Technician

Andréann graduated from Collège Ahuntsic in Legal Techniques in May 2020 and spent a year as a court clerk at the Superior Court.

With Riendeau since January 2021, she is deeply passionate about law and legal research. Organized and efficient, Andréann has applied her clerkship skills and knowledge to benefit our firm.

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Marie de Guise

Law student
Graduating from the University of Montreal in 2024, Marie de Guise first worked as a student in the family law team at Riendeau Avocats. She then joined the team as an intern in 2025, under the supervision of experienced lawyers.

Marie de Guise practices family law, focusing primarily on parental time, child support, and youth law. Empathetic and attentive, Marie de Guise understands the delicate issues in her cases and supports her clients through their legal processes.

Marie de Guise won the award for Best Litigator in Canada in a national moot court competition in 2024. She will defend your case with determination in court.
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