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Policy Manual

Superior Court For Juvenile Matters Service of Process

46-3-30.8
For Coterminous Petitions With an Order of Temporary Custody

Who Must Be Served?

Each parent and/or legal guardian named on the petition must be served, including legal, acknowledged, adjudicated or putative fathers.   

Unknown parents shall be served by publication in newspaper as John or Jane Doe. 

Important:  Any federally recognized Indian tribe to which a parent or child may be affiliated shall be notified.  See policy 31-8-12, Native American Families.
What Is To Be Served? The following documents must be served by a Judicial Marshall:
Type of Service Documents
In-Hand/Abode
  •   the Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) petition (JD-JM-40)

  • the Neglect petition (JD-JM-98), including the Jurisdictional Facts or To Wit  section

  • Summary of Facts for Coterminous petition

  • Order for Hearing and Notice/Summons (JD-JM-61)  - TPR 

  • Motion/Order of Temporary Custody (JD-JM-58)

  • a copy of the Order of Temporary Custody (JD-JM-58) for each person to be served

  • any affidavits supporting the Motion for Temporary Custody

  • Specific Steps

  • any other motion(s) filed with the petition

  • an addressed envelope for each person to be served

  • instructions to the Judicial Marshal.
Certified Mail All of the above and certified mail slips addressed to each applicable party(ies) and made returnable to the Court Clerk, Superior Court for Juvenile Matters.

Important:  Publication in newspapers is processed by the person coordinating Service of Process (see 46-3-30.12, page 1 of 2).

Time Frame for Completion of the Service of Process The Order of Temporary Custody must be served as soon as possible after its issuance, and must be served at least five (5) days prior to the preliminary court hearing.  Every effort must be made to serve the OTC within twenty-four (24) hours of being signed by the judge.
Type Of Service Required The type of Service of Process required is dependent upon the following conditions:
Parents’/Guardians’ Address Type of Service Required
is known within the state in-Hand/Abode
is known out-of-state or out of country certified Mail, restricted delivery, addressee only, return receipt requested
unknown publication in a newspaper with general circulation in the town/city where the parents’/guardians’ were last known to have resided.

Note: The newspaper can be identified by calling the Research Department of the local Public Library, or by searching in the Internet.

Connecticut Department of Children and Families Effective Date: November 1, 2005 (Revised)