Rule 5:12-4. Case Management Conference, Hearings, Trial, and Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings

(a) Prompt Disposition; Case Management Conference; Adjournments On the return date, the court shall proceed to hear the matter forthwith. In abuse and neglect cases, the court shall request that the parents or guardians at their first appearance in court provide identifying information regarding any persons who may serve as alternative placement resources to care for the children. As soon as the litigants have retained counsel or have chosen to proceed pro se and no later than 30 days from the return date, the court shall hold a case management conference or such other proceeding as may be appropriate, and shall enter any necessary order pertaining to the safety and well-being of the child and the conduct of the case, in the form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts. Thereafter, the court may on its own motion or that of any party adjourn the matter from time to time as the interest of justice requires. The court may at any time enter such interim orders as the best interests of any child under its jurisdiction may require.

(b) Hearings in Private; Testimony of Child Hearings and trials shall be conducted in private. In the child's best interests, the court may order that a child not be present at a hearing or trial unless the child's testimony is necessary for the determination of the matter. The testimony of a child may, in the court's discretion, be taken privately in chambers or under such protective orders as the court may provide.

(c) Examinations and Investigations At any time during the pendency of the matter the court may order examinations and investigations pursuant to R. 5:3-3.

(d) Reports The Division of Youth and Family Services shall be permitted to submit into evidence, pursuant to N.J.R.E. 803(c)(6) and 801(d), reports by staff personnel or professional consultants. Conclusions drawn from the facts stated therein shall be treated as prima facie evidence, subject to rebuttal.

(e) Written Plan Upon a finding of abuse or neglect the court may require that the Division of Youth and Family Services file a written plan embodying the disposition terms proposed by the Division of Youth and Family Services. When required to be filed, such plan shall be served upon all counsel or parties appearing pro se not less than 10 days prior to the dispositional hearing.

(f) Progress Reports The court may, upon entry of an order of disposition, require that the Division of Youth and Family Services file with the court and serve upon all counsel or parties appearing pro se periodic progress reports at such intervals as the court shall require and covering such topics as the court shall designate.

(g) Foreign State Placement In any case in which the court orders or plans to order that a child be placed with a person or agency or institution in another State, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, it shall act in compliance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, as adopted in New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 9:23-5 et seq. (the Compact). The Administrative Director of the Courts, in coordination with the Commissioner of the Department of [Human Services] Children and Families, as the duly designated public authority responsible for compliance with the Compact, may establish such guidelines and procedures as are necessary to ensure that all actions subject to the Compact are in compliance therewith.

(h) Permanency Hearing A permanency hearing shall be held to provide review and court approval of the placement plan for each child in placement outside of his or her own home no later than 12 months after the child goes into such placement, or no later than 30 days after the court makes a determination that reasonable efforts to reunify the child with the family are not required, whichever is sooner. Any hearing or proceeding scheduled before the court may serve as a permanency hearing, provided that notice of that fact is given to all parties in advance.

(i) Notice of Proceedings to Care Giver The court shall ensure that the foster parent or other person currently providing residential care to the child is given notice of all hearings and other proceedings to be held pursuant to L. 1999, c. 53. Such notice shall be sent by regular mail or hand-delivered no later than two weeks before the date of the hearing or other proceeding, except in emergent circumstances. The notice shall be in writing and shall inform the foster parent or other person providing care for the child of the date, time, and location of the hearing or other proceeding, and that he or she has a right to appear at that time to make a statement to the court of his or her views regarding the case and the interests of the child. The notice shall further state that, in accordance with law, such person is not made a party to the case and that he or she may not be permitted to be present in the courtroom except for purposes of making a statement to the court. The court, or the child placement review board acting on behalf of the court in a matter before it, may provide notice to any other interested person for good cause in the interest of the child.

(j) Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings; Exhibits. The following procedures shall apply to every termination of parental rights matter filed by the Division of Youth and Family Services: (1) The Division shall submit to the court no later than 5 days before the start of the trial two hard copies of all trial exhibits. (2) The Division shall append to its trial exhibits a completed evidence list in a form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts. (3) If authorized by the court, the Division may submit to the court no later than 5 days before the start of the trial its exhibits in an electronic format prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts. (4) In the event that no appeal is filed, the court shall retain exhibits for a minimum of 90 days after the entry of the final judgment. Upon the filing of an appeal, the court shall retain the exhibits until the final disposition of the appeal.