Ariz. R. P. Juv. Ct. Form 3
To the child's parent or legal guardian:
READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.
The Department of Child Safety (DCS) [or __________] has filed a motion for a permanent guardianship concerning your child.
As a parent, you have rights in this case. You have the right to an attorney. Your attorney will be with you at every hearing in your case. You have a right to ask for a trial, called an adjudication hearing, on the allegations in the guardianship motion. At the adjudication hearing your attorney can question any witness who testifies against you. You have the rights at the adjudication hearing to subpoena witnesses, to present documents, and to testify on your own behalf. Hearings are open to the public, but you may ask the court to close the hearing.
The court will consider the evidence and decide at the adjudication hearing whether the allegations in the motion have been proven and whether a permanent guardianship would be in the child's best interests.
As a parent, you also have responsibilities:
You must appear for every court date. You are required to appear for every hearing the court sets including a pre-trial conference, a settlement conference, and the adjudication hearing. If you don't show up for a court date and you don't have a good reason for not showing up, the court may find that you waived your rights in this case and that you have admitted the allegations in the guardianship motion. The court may then consider evidence in your absence and order a permanent guardianship for your child.
Your next court hearing is:
The date and time are:
The judge is:
The courthouse address is:
The courtroom number is:
Your attorney's telephone number is:
The court will presume you understand this notice unless you tell the court at today's hearing that you do not.
My signature means that I received a copy of this notice and that I understand my rights, my responsibilities, and the consequences of failing to appear at future hearings or failing to participate in reunification services.
_______________________
Signature
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Date
Ariz. R. P. Juv. Ct. Form 3