Court Timelines

Subd. 1. Admit/Deny Hearing. An admit/deny hearing shall be held not less than 10 days after service of the summons and petition upon the parties. In a permanency or termination of parental rights matter ordered under Rule 43, subd. 9(b), the admit/deny hearing shall be held within 10 days of the filing of the petition. Additionally, the admit/deny hearing shall be held within the timelines required by Minnesota Statutes, section 260C.507. In matters governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act, an admit/deny hearing shall not be held until the provisions of Rule 30.01, subd. 3, are met. Subd. 2. Scheduling Order. The court shall issue a scheduling order at the admit/deny hearing, or within 15 days of the admit/deny hearing. The scheduling order shall comply with the requirements of Rule 6. Subd. 3. Pretrial Hearing. The court shall convene a pretrial hearing at least 10 days prior to trial. Subd. 4. Trial. If the statutory grounds set forth in the petition are denied, a trial regarding a permanency or termination of parental rights matter shall commence within 60 days of the first admit/deny hearing. A trial required by Minnesota Statutes, section 260C.204, paragraph (d), clauses (2) and (3), following a permanency progress review hearing shall be commenced within 60 days of the filing of the petition required by that statute. Testimony shall be concluded within 30 days from the commencement of the trial, and whenever possible should be over consecutive days. Continuances and adjournments shall comply with Rule 5.01, subd. 2. Published by the Revisor of Statutes under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.08, subdivision 1. JUVENILE COURT 276 MINNESOTA COURT RULES Subd. 5. Findings/Adjudication. Within 15 days of the conclusion of the testimony, during which time the court may require simultaneous written arguments to be filed and served, the court shall issue its findings and order regarding whether one or more of the statutory grounds set forth in the petition have or have not been proved. The court may extend the period for issuing an order for an additional 15 days if the court finds that an extension of time is required in the interests of justice and the best interests of the child. Subd. 6. Disposition. To the extent practicable, the court shall conduct a disposition hearing and enter a disposition order the same day it makes a finding that one or more statutory grounds set forth in the petition have been proved. In the event disposition is not ordered at the same time as adjudication, the disposition order shall be issued within 10 days of the date the court finds one or more statutory grounds set forth in the petition have been proved. 2019 Advisory Committee Comment