CHINS
Law & Legal abbreviation · Estate and Family Law
| Stands for | Child in need of services |
|---|---|
| Categories | Law & Legal |
CHINS stands for Child in need of services, an estate and family law abbreviation.
Juvenile court case category, used in Indiana, Vermont and other states, for children who need court-supervised help because of abuse or neglect or because of behaviors such as truancy or running away. The exact definition and name vary by state.
Example: The school filed a CHINS petition after the 13-year-old missed 40 days of class.
Usage notes
Some states use "child in need of supervision" or "child in need of care" instead. Massachusetts replaced its CHINS system with Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) cases in 2012. New York's comparable status-offense category is PINS.
Related abbreviations
More estate and family law abbreviations
- AHCD – Advance health care directive
- CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocate
- CLT – Charitable lead trust
- CPS – Child Protective Services
- CRT – Charitable remainder trust
- DAPT – Domestic asset protection trust
- dec'd – Deceased
- DPOA – Durable power of attorney
- DVRO – Domestic violence restraining order
- EPA – Enduring power of attorney
- EPO – Emergency protective order
- FBO – For the benefit of
See all 50 estate and family law abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.