Oregon Statutes - Chapter 419B - Juvenile Code: Dependency - Section 419B.815 - Summons for proceeding to establish jurisdiction under ORS 419B.100; contents; failure to appear.

(1) A court may make an order establishing jurisdiction under ORS 419B.100 only after service of summons and a true copy of the petition as provided in ORS 419B.812, 419B.823, 419B.824, 419B.827, 419B.830, 419B.833 and 419B.839.

(2) A summons under this section must require one of the following:

(a) That the person appear personally before the court at the time and place specified in the summons for a hearing on the allegations of the petition;

(b) That the person appear personally before the court at the time and place specified in the summons to admit or deny the allegations of the petition; or

(c) That the person file a written answer to the petition within 30 days from the date on which the person is served with the summons.

(3) If the court does not direct the type of response to be required by the summons under subsection (2) of this section, the summons shall require the person being summoned to respond in the manner authorized by subsection (2)(c) of this section.

(4) A summons under this section must contain:

(a) A statement that the petition seeks to establish jurisdiction under ORS 419B.100 and that, if the person fails to appear at the time and place specified in the summons or an order under ORS 419B.816 or, if the summons requires the filing of a written answer, fails to file the answer within the time provided, the court may establish jurisdiction without further notice either on the date specified in the summons or order or on a future date, and may take any other action that is authorized by law including, but not limited to, making the child a ward of the court and removing the child from the legal and physical custody of the parent or other person having legal or physical custody of the child.

(b) A notice that the person has the right to be represented by an attorney. The notice must be in substantially the following form:

______________________________________________________________________________

You have a right to be represented by an attorney. If you wish to be represented by an attorney, please retain one as soon as possible to represent you in this proceeding. If you are the child or the parent or legal guardian of the child and you cannot afford to hire an attorney and you meet the state’s financial guidelines, you are entitled to have an attorney appointed for you at state expense. To request appointment of an attorney to represent you at state expense, you must contact the juvenile court immediately. Phone ________ for further information.

______________________________________________________________________________

(c) A statement that, if the person is represented by an attorney, the person has the responsibility to maintain contact with the person’s attorney and to keep the attorney advised of the person’s whereabouts.

(d) A statement that, if the person is represented by an attorney, the person must appear personally at any hearing where the person is required to appear, unless the person is the child at issue in the proceeding who must be served with summons in accordance with ORS 419B.839 (1)(f). The statement must explain that to “appear personally” does not include appearance through the person’s attorney.

(e) A statement that, if the court has granted the person an exception in advance under ORS 419B.918, the person may appear in any manner permitted by the court under ORS 419B.918.

(f) A statement that no later than 30 days after the petition is filed each party about whom allegations have been made must admit or deny the allegations and that, unless the court specifies otherwise, the admission or denial may be made orally at the hearing or filed with the court in writing.

(g) A statement that if the petition alleges that the child has been physically or sexually abused, the court, at the hearing, may enter an order restraining the alleged perpetrator of the abuse from having contact with the child or attempting to contact the child and requiring the alleged perpetrator to move from the household in which the child resides.

(h) A statement that the parent or other person legally obligated to support the child may be required to pay at some future date for all or a portion of the support of the child, including the cost of out-of-home placement, depending upon the ability of the parent or other person to pay support.

(5) If the summons requires the person to appear before the court to admit or deny the allegations of the petition or requires the person to file a written answer to the petition, the summons must advise the person that, if the person contests the petition, the court:

(a) Will schedule a hearing on the allegations of the petition and order the person to appear personally; and

(b) May schedule other hearings related to the petition and order the person to appear personally.

(6) At a hearing, when the person is required to appear personally, or in the person’s written answer to the petition, the person shall inform the court and the petitioner of the person’s current residence address, mailing address and telephone number.

(7) If a person fails to appear for any hearing related to the petition, or fails to file a written answer, as directed by summons or court order under this section or ORS 419B.816, the court may establish jurisdiction without further notice, either on the date specified in the summons or order or on a future date, and may take any other action that is authorized by law including, but not limited to, making the child a ward of the court and removing the child from the legal and physical custody of the parent or other person having legal or physical custody of the child.

(8) If the summons requires the person to appear personally before the court, or if a court orders the person to appear personally at a hearing in the manner provided in ORS 419B.816, the person may not appear through the person’s attorney, unless the person is the child at issue in the proceeding who has been served with summons in accordance with ORS 419B.839 (1)(f). [2001 c.622 §6; 2001 c.962 §54; 2003 c.205 §§10,11; 2007 c.497 §3]

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Last modified: August 7, 2008