ARRAIGNMENTS AND PREHEARING CONFERENCES

(a) Arraignment.

(1) Before the adjudicatory hearing, the court must conduct a hearing to determine whether an admission, consent, or denial to the petition must be entered, and whether the parties are represented by counsel or are entitled to appointed counsel as provided by law.

(2) If an admission or consent is entered and no denial is entered by any other parent or legal custodian, the court must enter a written order finding dependency based on the allegations of the dependency petition by a preponderance of the evidence. The court must schedule a disposition hearing to be conducted within 15 days. If a denial is entered, the court must set an adjudicatory hearing within the period of time provided by law and appoint counsel when required.

(3) If one parent enters an admission or consent and the other parent who is present enters a denial to the allegations of the dependency petition, the court must enter a written order finding dependency based on the allegations of the dependency petition that pertain to the parent who enters an admission or consent by a preponderance of the evidence. The court must then reserve ruling on whether the parent who entered the denial contributed to the dependency status of the child under the statutory definition of a dependent child until the parent enters an admission or consent to the dependency petition, the court conducts an adjudicatory hearing, or the issue is otherwise resolved.

(4) If one parent enters an admission or consent and the identity or location of the other parent is unknown, the court must enter a written order finding dependency based on the allegations of the dependency petition by a preponderance of the evidence. The court must then reserve ruling on whether the parent whose identity or location is unknown contributed to the dependency status of the child under the statutory definition of a dependent child until the parent enters an admission or consent to the dependency petition, the court conducts an adjudicatory hearing, or the court proceeds as provided by law regarding a parent whose identity or location is unknown.

(5) If the court enters a written order finding dependency, the court must schedule a disposition hearing to be conducted within 15 days. If a denial is entered, the court must set an adjudicatory hearing within the period of time provided by law and appoint counsel when required.

(b) Withdrawal of Plea. The court may for good cause, at any time before the beginning of a disposition hearing, permit an admission of the allegations of the petition or a consent to dependency to be withdrawn and, if an adjudication has been entered, set aside the adjudication. In a subsequent adjudicatory hearing the court must disregard an admission or consent that has been withdrawn.

(c) Pretrial Status Conference. Before any adjudicatory hearing, the court may set or the parties may request that a pretrial status conference be held to determine:

(1) the order in which each party may present its case;

(2) which witnesses will testify in person and which will testify via communication technology;

(3) how a remote witness’s identity will be confirmed;

(4) any stipulations entered into by the parties; and

(5) any other matters that may aid in the conduct of the adjudicatory hearing.

(d) Status Hearing. Within 60 days of the filing of the petition, a status hearing must be held with all parties present unless an adjudicatory or disposition hearing has begun. Subsequent status hearings must be held every 30 days unless an adjudicatory or disposition hearing has begun.