CHILDREN AND THE LAW
...Dependency Petitions
......Periodic Review Hearings
.........Right to Contested Hearing
5 Cards On This Topic:

Juvenile courts may not deprive a parent of her or his procedural due process rights simply because the parent failed to appear at hearing.

No reversible error in juvenile court’s denial of contested permanency planning hearing for mother.

Court may not, consistent with reqs of statute and principles of due process, deny the right to contested review hearing based on allegedly inadequate or nonexistent offer of proof.

Denying contested hearing was abuse of discretion where mother submitted written pretrial stmt setting forth proof she hoped to show at hrg, including Ws' names and expected testimony.

Because of important parental interests at stake, denial of contested hearing on issue of permanent placement not permitted.