What Kinds of Legal Hearings Are Held in Juvenile Dependency Court?
The following will describe the types of hearings that are scheduled in Juvenile Dependency Court. Click here for a flowchart that you can follow as you read about the hearings. • What happens at the Initial Hearing (Detention Hearing)? At the initial or detention hearing the parents are given notice of the proceedings and presented with a copy of the petition and any supporting documents relating to the legal proceedings. The court explains what the consequences of dependency proceedings may be. Attorneys are identified for all parties. Relatives are identified, if possible. Paternity is established, if possible. The court makes decisions whether the child should remain with a parent or be placed outside of home on an emergency basis. If the child is removed from a parent, the court makes visitation orders. The court also refers the parents to appropriate services. The court also makes a finding whether the Department of Family and Childrens Services has made reasonable efforts to pre
