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Policy Manual
COURTS
Service of Process

46-3-33.4
For Neglect Petitions

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

Note: Any Indian tribe, affected by the Indian Child Welfare Act, must be notified if it appears on the petition.
What Is To Be Served? The following documents must be served by a sheriff:

 

Type of Service Documents
In-Hand/Abode
  • a copy (front and back) of the Neglect Petition: Neglected, Uncared For, Dependent Child/Youth, JD-JM-98, including the "Jurisdictional Facts" section and the Summary of Facts for each person to be served
  • an addressed envelope for each person to be served
  • instructions to the sheriff
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

Note: Publication in newspapers are processed by the person coordinating Service of Process (see 46-3-33.12, page 1 of 2).
Time Frame For Completion Of The Service Of Process The Service of Process must be completed fourteen (14) days prior to the initial (plea) hearing.

The sheriff’s confirmation is required to be filed with the court immediately following the completion of the Service of Process (no more than two to three days).
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 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. Ask for the identity of the publication with the largest daily circulation in the area that the Department wants the publication to appear in.

Connecticut Department of Children and Families Effective Date: March 17, 1997 (New)

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