1. An adjudicatory hearing must be held within 30 days after the filing of the petition, unless good cause is shown or the hearing has been continued until a later date pursuant to NRS 432B.513.

2. At the hearing, the court shall inform the parties of the specific allegations in the petition and give them an opportunity to admit or deny them. If the allegations are denied, the court shall hear evidence on the petition.

3. In adjudicatory hearings, all relevant and material evidence helpful in determining the questions presented, including oral and written reports, may be received by the court and may be relied upon to the extent of its probative value. The parties or their attorney must be afforded an opportunity to examine and controvert written reports so received and to cross-examine individuals making reports when reasonably available.

4. The court may require the child to be present in court at the hearing.

5. If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the child was in need of protection at the time of the removal of the child from the home, it shall record its findings of fact and may proceed immediately or at another hearing held within 15 working days, to make a proper disposition of the case. If the court finds that the allegations in the petition have not been established, it shall dismiss the petition and, if the child is in protective custody, order the immediate release of the child.

6. The findings of fact recorded by the court pursuant to subsection 5 and any specific allegations in the petition admitted to by the parties must be included as part of the disposition of the case in the report required to be made to the Central Registry pursuant to NRS 432B.310.

(Added to NRS by 1985, 1382; A 2001, 1703, 1846; 2003, 87; 2013, 2879)