Dependency jurisdiction hearing (child not detained): within 30 days of petition

30 days after date the section 300 petition was filed (child not detained), under Welf. & Inst. Code 334.

Rule text

Upon the filing of the petition, the clerk of the juvenile court shall set the same for hearing within 30 days, except that in the case of a minor detained in custody at the time of the filing of the petition, the petition must be set for hearing within 15 judicial days from the date of the order of the court directing such detention.

Welf. & Inst. Code 334, official source

Calculate this deadline

DeadlineDate the section 300 petition was filed (child not detained)

Deadline

Friday, December 4, 2026

Trigger (Date the section 300 petition was filed (child not detained)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Sunday, December 6, 2026.
That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Friday, December 4, 2026 (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.).

Rules applied

Welf. & Inst. Code 334

Upon the filing of the petition, the clerk of the juvenile court shall set the same for hearing within 30 days, except that in the case of a minor detained in custody at the time of the filing of the petition, the petition must be set for hearing within 15 judicial days from the date of the order of the court directing such detention.

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

Calendar days; CCP 12a extends to the next court day if day 30 is a weekend or holiday (conservative practice: set the hearing earlier). For a nondetained child the initial hearing must be set within 15 court days (CRC 5.670(a)). WIC 354 allows an extra 10-day continuance for an unavailable necessary witness if the child is not in custody.
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 the section 300 petition was filed (child not detained) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, April 14, 2027.

Trigger (Date the section 300 petition was filed (child not detained)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Wednesday, April 14, 2027.

Unsettled points

These are court-set dates; the calculator shows the last court day inside each statutory window, the date a court is most likely to use, and labels it court-set.Other reading: If CCP 12a extends these windows, a weekend or holiday last day rolls forward and the hearing may be one to three days later.

Notes

Calendar days; CCP 12a extends to the next court day if day 30 is a weekend or holiday (conservative practice: set the hearing earlier). For a nondetained child the initial hearing must be set within 15 court days (CRC 5.670(a)). WIC 354 allows an extra 10-day continuance for an unavailable necessary witness if the child is not in custody.

Related deadlines

Dependency jurisdiction hearing (child detained): within 15 judicial days of detention order (15 court days after)
Return of child within 2 working days after finding no jurisdiction (2 court days after)
Notice of dependency jurisdiction hearing (child detained): at least 5 days before (5 days before)
Notice of dependency jurisdiction hearing (child not detained): at least 10 days before (10 days before)

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.