Rule 33a-2. Service of Summons, Petitions and Ex Parte Orders

(a) A summons accompanying a petition alleging that a child or youth is neglected, abused or uncared for, along with the summary of facts, shall be served by the petitioner on the respondents, alleged genetic parents, and persons presumed to be the parent pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-488 (a) (3) and provided to the Office of the Attorney General at least fourteen days before the date of the initial plea hearing on the petition, which shall be held not more than forty-five days from the date of filing the petition.

(b) A summons accompanying a petition for termination of parental rights, along with the summary of facts, shall be served by the petitioner on the respondents, alleged genetic parents, and persons presumed to be the parent pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-488 (a) (3) and provided to the Office of the Attorney General at least ten days prior to the date of the initial plea hearing on the petition, which shall be held not more than thirty days after the filing of the petition, except in the case of a petition for termination of parental rights based on consent, which shall be held not more than twenty days after the filing of the petition.

(c) A summons accompanying simultaneously filed coterminous petitions, along with the summary of facts, shall be served by the petitioner on the respondents, alleged genetic parents, and persons presumed to be the parent pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-488 (a) (3) and provided to the Office of the Attorney General at least ten days prior to the date of the initial plea hearing on the petition, which shall be held not more than thirty days after the filing of the petitions, except in the case of a petition for termination of parental rights based on consent, which shall be held not more than twenty days after the filing of the petition.

(d) A summons accompanying any petition filed with an application for order of temporary custody shall be served by the petitioner on the respondents, alleged genetic parents, and persons presumed to be the parent pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-488 (a) (3) and provided to the Office of the Attorney General as soon as practicable after the issuance of any ex parte order or order to appear, along with such order, any sworn statements supporting the order, the summary of facts, the specific steps provided by the judicial authority, and the notice required by Section 33a-6.

(e) Whenever the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families obtains an ex parte order of temporary custody or an order to appear and show cause from the judicial authority, he or she shall provide the clerk with a sealed envelope marked ''Attention: Counsel for Child(ren)'' containing the following information: the name, phone number and email of the investigation social worker; the name, phone number and email of the treatment supervisor or social worker, if known; and the child(ren)'s placement or home address and phone number, and name of a placement contact person. The clerk shall ensure that counsel assigned to the child or youth is provided with said envelope at the time his or her appearance is filed. In the event the placement information changes prior to the preliminary hearing, the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families shall notify counsel for the child or youth immediately.

Committee Notes

amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009; amended June 15, 2012, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013; amended June 14, 2024, to take effect Jan. 1, 2025.)