Dependency disposition: never more than 6 months after detention hearing

6 months after date of the detention hearing under wic 319, under Welf. & Inst. Code 352(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.550(a)(3).

Rule text

WIC 352(b): "The court shall not grant continuances that would cause the hearing pursuant to Section 361 to be completed more than six months after the hearing pursuant to Section 319." CRC 5.550(a)(3): "In no event may the disposition hearing be continued more than six months after the detention hearing."

Welf. & Inst. Code 352(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.550(a)(3), official source

Calculate this deadline

DeadlineDate of the detention hearing under WIC 319

Deadline

Thursday, May 6, 2027

Trigger (Date of the detention hearing under WIC 319): Friday, November 6, 2026.
Add 6 months: Thursday, May 6, 2027.

Rules applied

Welf. & Inst. Code 352(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.550(a)(3)

WIC 352(b): "The court shall not grant continuances that would cause the hearing pursuant to Section 361 to be completed more than six months after the hearing pursuant to Section 319." CRC 5.550(a)(3): "In no event may the disposition hearing be continued more than six months after the detention hearing."

Official source

Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10, 133-135; Gov. Code 6800; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10. 'Judicial day' / 'court day': not defined in WIC or CRC 5.502.

CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135." CCP 133: "Courts of justice may be held and judicial business transacted on any day, except as provided in this article." Gov. Code 6800: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CRC 1.10(a): "The time in which any act provided by these rules is to be performed is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, and then it is also excluded." CRC 1.10(b): "Unless otherwise provided by law, if the last day for the performance of any act that is required by these rules to be performed within a specific period of time falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the period is extended to and includes the next day that is not a holiday."

Official source

Absolute cap ('in no event'); rolled back to the previous court day rather than forward because the hearing must be completed within the period (conservative choice; CCP 12a might be argued to extend).
If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.

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This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.

Worked example

Date of the detention hearing under WIC 319 on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, September 15, 2027.

Trigger (Date of the detention hearing under WIC 319): Monday, March 15, 2027.
Add 6 months: Wednesday, September 15, 2027.

Notes

Absolute cap ('in no event'); rolled back to the previous court day rather than forward because the hearing must be completed within the period (conservative choice; CCP 12a might be argued to extend).

Related deadlines

Dependency disposition hearing continued (child detained): max 10 judicial days (10 court days after)
Dependency disposition hearing (child not detained): within 30 days of jurisdictional finding (30 days after)
Dependency disposition (not detained), extended for cause: 30 + 15 days after finding (45 days after)
Dependency disposition when bypass of services (361.5(b)) alleged: continuance max 30 days (30 days after)
Dependency disposition completed within 60 days after detention hearing (child removed) (60 days after)
Dependency disposition (Indian child) completed within 30 days after detention hearing (30 days after)
Dependency written case plan filed: by disposition or 60 days after initial removal, whichever first (60 days after)
Delinquency disposition (child detained): continuance max 10 judicial days (10 court days after)

All California juvenile deadlines

Local rules by county

County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.

Rules current as of 2026-10-26. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.