Preparing for court
Use this information to get ready for your court hearings.
Give a copy of the notice of hearing and petition to your child as soon as possible after you file the case.
If your child is a runaway and you cannot locate them, still appear for the scheduled fact finding hearing and tell the court. The court may issue a warrant for your child’s arrest.
Fact Finding Hearing
The fact finding hearing is when the court decides if your child is an At Risk Youth or a Child in Need of Services, as defined by law.
At the fact finding hearing, you will explain why you are coming to the court and what you want the court to do. It is a good idea to write down what you want to say before the hearing.
Disposition Hearing
If the court finds that your child is an At Risk Youth or a Child in Need of Services, the court will schedule a disposition hearing. Disposition hearings usually take place about two weeks after the fact finding hearing ends.
At the disposition hearing, you and your child can present any evidence about your child’s behavior and problems. You can also ask the court to include specific requirements in the court order.
The court may enter a temporary order to help control your child’s behavior between hearings, depending on the situation.
Review Hearings
Review hearings are usually scheduled about three months after the disposition hearing.
Contempt Hearings
If your child does not follow the court order, you may request a contempt or show cause hearing at any time.
You should keep a written list of violations. Include the behavior, the date, and the time. When there are either a significant number of violations or a serious violation, you should request a contempt hearing.
To request a contempt hearing, complete all three of these forms:
File all three forms at the Skagit County Clerk's Office on the first floor of the county courthouse. You must file the forms between 8:30 am and 12:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Normally, the court will schedule you before the daily Ex-Parte calendar, which starts at 1:15 pm, Monday through Friday. The judge or court commissioner will review your motion and then schedule a hearing date.
After the hearing, if the court approves the motion, go to the Clerk's Office. Request three copies each of the motion and notice of hearing. Keep one set for yourself. Give the second set (serve) to the youth, if possible. Take the third set to the Public Defender's Office, Juvenile Division.
Duration of Orders
An At Risk Youth case can be dismissed after three months if your child cooperates with the court order. If your child does not cooperate, the court can extend the order for up to six more months.
