Post-permanency status review: at least every 6 months

6 months after date of the section 366.26 hearing selecting the permanent plan (for later reviews, the date of the last review), under Welf. & Inst. Code 366.3(a)(1), (d)(1); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.740(a), (b).

Rule text

WIC 366.3: "The status of the child or nonminor dependent shall be reviewed every six months to ensure that the adoption or legal guardianship is completed as expeditiously as possible." WIC 366.3(d)(1): "If the child or nonminor dependent is in a placement other than the home of a legal guardian and jurisdiction has not been dismissed, the status of the child shall be reviewed at least every six months."

Welf. & Inst. Code 366.3(a)(1), (d)(1); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.740(a), (b), official source

Calculate this deadline

DeadlineDate of the section 366.26 hearing selecting the permanent plan (for later reviews, the date of the last review)

Deadline

Thursday, May 6, 2027

Trigger (Date of the section 366.26 hearing selecting the permanent plan (for later reviews, the date of the last review)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
Add 6 months: Thursday, May 6, 2027.

Rules applied

Welf. & Inst. Code 366.3(a)(1), (d)(1); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.740(a), (b)

WIC 366.3: "The status of the child or nonminor dependent shall be reviewed every six months to ensure that the adoption or legal guardianship is completed as expeditiously as possible." WIC 366.3(d)(1): "If the child or nonminor dependent is in a placement other than the home of a legal guardian and jurisdiction has not been dismissed, the status of the child shall be reviewed at least every six months."

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

Recurring. Reviews may be held earlier (366.3(j)). Court review of the permanent plan at least every 12 months (CRC 5.740(b)(4)). Notice per WIC 295(c).
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.

Google Calendar

Track every deadline in this case, free →

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 section 366.26 hearing selecting the permanent plan (for later reviews, the date of the last review) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, September 15, 2027.

Trigger (Date of the section 366.26 hearing selecting the permanent plan (for later reviews, the date of the last review)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
Add 6 months: Wednesday, September 15, 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

Recurring. Reviews may be held earlier (366.3(j)). Court review of the permanent plan at least every 12 months (CRC 5.740(b)(4)). Notice per WIC 295(c).

Related deadlines

Date child is deemed to enter foster care (60-day prong) (60 days after)
Six-month review hearing: 6 months after initial disposition (6 months after)
Six-month review: no later than 12 months after entry into foster care (12 months after)
Twelve-month permanency hearing: no later than 12 months after entry into foster care (12 months after)
Twelve-month permanency hearing set no later than 18 months from initial removal (18 months after)
Eighteen-month permanency review hearing: within 18 months of original removal (18 months after)
Twenty-four-month subsequent permanency review: within 24 months of original removal (24 months after)
Family maintenance review (child not removed): within 6 months of disposition (6 months 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.