IC 31-34-11
     Chapter 11. Factfinding Hearing on Child in Need of Services Petition

IC 31-34-11-1
Hearing requirements; extension of time; notice; opportunity to be heard
     Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), unless the allegations of a petition have been admitted, the juvenile court shall complete a factfinding hearing not more than sixty (60) days after a petition alleging that a child is a child in need of services is filed in accordance with IC 31-34-9.
    (b) The juvenile court may extend the time to complete a factfinding hearing, as described in subsection (a), for an additional sixty (60) days if all parties in the action consent to the additional time.
    (c) If the factfinding hearing is not held immediately after the initial hearing as provided under IC 31-34-10-9, the department shall provide notice of any factfinding hearing to each foster parent or other caretaker with whom the child has been placed for temporary care. The court shall provide a person who is required to be notified under this subsection an opportunity to be heard at the factfinding hearing.
    (d) If the factfinding hearing is not held within the time set forth in subsection (a) or (b), upon a motion with the court, the court shall dismiss the case without prejudice.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.146-2006, SEC.46; P.L.138-2007, SEC.71; P.L.48-2012, SEC.59.

IC 31-34-11-2
Judgment; order of predisposition report; scheduling of dispositional hearing
     Sec. 2. If the court finds that a child is a child in need of services, the court shall:
        (1) enter judgment accordingly;
        (2) order a predisposition report; and
        (3) schedule a dispositional hearing.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.

IC 31-34-11-3
Discharge of child
     Sec. 3. If the court finds that a child is not a child in need of services, the court shall discharge the child.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.

IC 31-34-11-4
Judgment entry; continuance; release from juvenile detention facility pending entry of judgment
     Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), at the close of all the evidence and before judgment is entered, the court may continue

the case for not more than twelve (12) months.
    (b) If the:
        (1) child;
        (2) child's parent, guardian, or custodian; or
        (3) department;
requests that judgment be entered, the judgment shall be entered not later than thirty (30) days after the request is made.
    (c) If the child is in a juvenile detention facility, the child shall be released not later than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, pending the entry of judgment. A child released from a juvenile detention facility pending the entry of judgment may be detained in a shelter care facility.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.35-1998, SEC.7; P.L.146-2006, SEC.47.

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