{"data":{"id":"us-vt/33-v.s.a.-5315a","jurisdiction":"us-vt","citation":"33 V.S.A. § 5315a","heading":"Merits stipulation","body":"(a) At any time after the filing of the CHINS petition and prior to an order of adjudication on the merits, the court may approve a written stipulation to the merits of the petition and any or all elements of the disposition plan, including the permanency goal, placement, visitation, or services.\n(b) The court may approve a written stipulation if:\n(1) the parties to the petition, as defined in subdivision 5102(22) of this title, agree to the terms of the stipulation; and\n(2) the court determines that:\n(A) the agreement between the parties is voluntary;\n(B) the parties to the agreement understand the nature of the allegation; and\n(C) the parties to the agreement understand the rights waived if the court approves of and issues an order based upon the stipulation.","path":["Title 33: Human Services","Chapter 053: Children in Need of Care or Supervision"],"source_url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/33/053/05315a","current_through":"2025 session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T17:17:11Z","sha256":"c090b4902b342a05d9f0e4aeac0ea0a26c51501acd84cee02e707bb37a97da3d","source_id":"us-vt","stale":false,"prev":"us-vt/33-v.s.a.-5315","next":"us-vt/33-v.s.a.-5316"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}