Georgia · Snapshot Public.Resource.Org bulk O.C.G.A., Release 86 (2022-11), retrieved 2026-09-17

O.C.G.A. § 15-11-400: Child in need of services; time limitations for continued custody or temporary custody hearings.

(a) The continued custody hearing for a child alleged to be a child in need of services shall be held promptly and no later than:
(1) Twenty-four hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after such child is taken into temporary custody if he or she is being held in a secure residential facility or nonsecure residential facility; or
(2) Seventy-two hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after such child is placed in foster care.
(b) If a child alleged to be a child in need of services was never taken into temporary custody or is released from temporary custody at the continued custody hearing, the following time frames apply:
(1) The petition for a child in need of services shall be filed:
(A) Within 30 days of the filing of the complaint with the juvenile court; or
(B) Within 30 days of such child’s release from temporary custody;
(2) Summons shall be served at least 72 hours before the adjudication hearing;
(3) An adjudication hearing shall be scheduled to be held no later than 60 days after the filing of the petition for a child in need of services; and
(4) If not held in conjunction with an adjudication hearing, a disposition hearing shall be held and completed within 30 days after the conclusion of an adjudication hearing.
(c) If a child alleged to be a child in need of services is not released from temporary custody at the continued custody hearing, the following time frames apply:
(1) The petition for a child in need of services shall be filed within five days of the continued custody hearing;
(2) Summons shall be served at least 72 hours before an adjudication hearing;
(3) An adjudication hearing shall be scheduled to be held no later than ten days after the filing of the petition for a child in need of services; and
(4) If not held in conjunction with an adjudication hearing, a disposition hearing shall be held and completed within 30 days after the conclusion of an adjudication hearing.

Where this section sits in the code

TITLE 15 Courts
CHAPTER 11 Juvenile Code
Article 5 Child in Need of Services
PART 3 Formal Court Procedures

(a) The continued custody hearing for a child alleged to be a child in need of services shall be held promptly and no later than:

(1) Twenty-four hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after such child is taken into temporary custody if he or she is being held in a secure residential facility or nonsecure residential facility; or

(2) Seventy-two hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after such child is placed in foster care.

(b) If a child alleged to be a child in need of services was never taken into temporary custody or is released from temporary custody at the continued custody hearing, the following time frames apply:

(1) The petition for a child in need of services shall be filed:

(A) Within 30 days of the filing of the complaint with the juvenile court; or

(B) Within 30 days of such child’s release from temporary custody;

(2) Summons shall be served at least 72 hours before the adjudication hearing;

(3) An adjudication hearing shall be scheduled to be held no later than 60 days after the filing of the petition for a child in need of services; and

(4) If not held in conjunction with an adjudication hearing, a disposition hearing shall be held and completed within 30 days after the conclusion of an adjudication hearing.

(c) If a child alleged to be a child in need of services is not released from temporary custody at the continued custody hearing, the following time frames apply:

(1) The petition for a child in need of services shall be filed within five days of the continued custody hearing;

(2) Summons shall be served at least 72 hours before an adjudication hearing;

(3) An adjudication hearing shall be scheduled to be held no later than ten days after the filing of the petition for a child in need of services; and

(4) If not held in conjunction with an adjudication hearing, a disposition hearing shall be held and completed within 30 days after the conclusion of an adjudication hearing.

Collected 2026-09-17T19:34:57Z. Source file · JSON

Browse this collection