It usually starts with a knock. No court order. No paperwork. Just a stranger at your door claiming to be from DHR, sometimes with a police officer standing nearby. They say they are just checking in. They insist it is not a big deal. They may even sound calm, even friendly. But make no mistake this is not a casual visit. It is the beginning of a process that has taken children from homes across Alabama, often without clear cause or accountability.

You are not legally required to open your door. In Alabama, unless a DHR worker has a warrant signed by a judge or can clearly see that a child is in immediate danger, you do not have to let them in. You do not have to answer their questions. You do not have to give them information. And you absolutely do not have to allow them to interview your children alone.

This is not being uncooperative. This is knowing your rights. Too many parents are caught off guard, thinking that if they explain the situation, it will all go away. But what many do not realize is that DHR workers can use anything you say at that moment to build a case against you. Innocent words can be twisted. Details can be left out of reports. Things can escalate quickly. Once that door is open, it is no longer just a conversation. It is documentation.

If police are present, it can feel intimidating. But the presence of law enforcement does not give DHR the automatic right to enter your home. Ask calmly and clearly whether they have a court order. If they do not, you have every right to decline entry and request that all communication go through your attorney. You can also choose to record the interaction. Alabama is a one-party consent state, which means you are legally allowed to record conversations you are part of, even without informing the other party.

Parents often feel pressured to comply. They are told it will look bad if they do not cooperate. They are warned that DHR can return with stronger action if they resist. These tactics are meant to scare you into giving up your rights. But silence is not obstruction. Refusing entry without a court order is not illegal. Asking for legal counsel is not a crime. It is your constitutional protection in action.

DHR operates best when families do not know what they are allowed to say no to. They depend on confusion and fear. But you can change the narrative by standing in your doorway and holding the line. You do not have to slam the door. You do not have to raise your voice. You just have to remember that if there is no warrant, there is no obligation to let them in.

We tell families this because too many have learned the hard way. They opened the door thinking it would help. It did not. They answered questions thinking it would clear things up. It did not. What protects you is not agreeing to everything. It is knowing when to say no. That starts at the door.

You are not powerless. You are not alone. And you have every right to protect your home, your voice, and your children.