A. The court shall determine if the allegations of the petition are admitted or denied by the parent or child. If the allegations are denied, the court shall proceed to hear evidence on the petition. The court, after hearing all of the evidence regarding an alleged family in need of court-ordered services, shall make and record its findings.

B. If the court finds, on the basis of a valid admission of the allegations set forth in the petition or on the basis of clear and convincing evidence that is competent, material and relevant in nature, that the child is a child of a family in need of court-ordered services, the court may proceed immediately or at a postponed hearing to make disposition of the case. If the court does not find that the child is a child of a family in need of court-ordered services, the court shall dismiss the petition.

C. In that part of the hearings regarding dispositional issues, 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, even though not competent had it been offered during the part of the hearings regarding adjudicatory issues.

D. On the court's motion or motion of a party, the court may continue the hearing on the petition for a reasonable time to receive reports and other evidence regarding disposition. The court shall continue the hearing pending the receipt of the plan for family services if that document has not been prepared and received. During any continuance granted pursuant to this subsection, the court shall make an appropriate order for legal custody of the child.

History: 1978 Comp., § 32A-3B-14, enacted by Laws 1993, ch. 77, § 86; 1995, ch. 206, § 19.

The 1995 amendment, effective July 1, 1995, inserted "by the parent or child" in the first sentence of Subsection A.