Once you receive notice that you have 72 hours to go to court for a Welfare and Institutions Section 300 Petition you must attend that hearing.  When there is a petition filed the court’s goal must be to remove the child from neglectful or abusive relationship. At the initial hearing, the court makes decisions regarding where the child should be placed.  The court makes orders to initiate services for the family and the child.  For this hearing there is little time for investigation of the social and emotional status of the parents and the children.  At the initial hearing, things are determined such as who the mother is and who the father is, whether married or not.  In addition the court determines if there is Indian Heritage because there are special Indian Child Welfare Act rules.

Important information is needed at this initial hearing and it can be very emotional since the court can take jurisdiction over your children, t is important to contact a knowledgeable dependency law attorney to make sure you are on the right track. Wallin & Klarich has more than 30 years of experience in dependency. Our attorneys know from long experience what works in dependency cases, and are prepared to fight to get you the best possible outcome. With 16 attorneys in 33 offices throughout Southern California, we can be there when you need us — wherever you are. If you’re thinking of hiring an attorney for a dependency case, call us today at 1-888-749-7428 for a consultation.