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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 16§ 656 Juvenile Wardship Petition Requirements

§ 656 Juvenile Wardship Petition Requirements

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 656 Juvenile Wardship Petition Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •A petition to declare a minor a ward of the court must include specific details like the minor's name, age, and address, as well as the parents' or guardians' information.
  • •The petition must clearly state the reasons why the minor should be under the court's care, using simple and separate facts.
  • •If the minor is in custody, the petition must say so and include the exact time they were taken into custody.
  • •Parents or guardians may be responsible for paying fines or restitution if the minor is ordered to do so by the court.

Example

A 15-year-old keeps skipping school, and the school reports this to the court.

The court will get a petition with the teen's name, age, and why they should be under the court's care (like breaking school attendance rules). The petition will also tell the parents they might have to pay fines if the teen doesn’t follow the rules.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 656 Juvenile Wardship Petition Requirements

A petition to commence proceedings in the juvenile court to declare a minor a ward of the court shall be verified and shall contain all of the following: (a) The name of the court to which it is addressed. (b) The title of the proceeding. (c) The code section and subdivision under which the proceedings are instituted. (d) The name, age, and address, if any, of the minor upon whose behalf the petition is brought. (e) The names and residence addresses, if known to the petitioner, of both of the parents and any guardian of the minor. If there is no parent or guardian residing within the state, or if his or her place of residence is not known to the petitioner, the petition shall also contain the name and residence address, if known, of any adult relative residing within the county, or, if there are none, the adult relative residing nearest to the location of the court. (f) A concise statement of facts, separately stated, to support the conclusion that the minor upon whose behalf the petition is being brought is a person within the definition of each of the sections and subdivisions under which the proceedings are being instituted. (g) The fact that the minor upon whose behalf the petition is brought is detained in custody or is not detained in custody, and if he or she is detained in custody, the date and the precise time the minor was taken into custody. (h) In a proceeding alleging that the minor comes within Section 601, notice to the parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of the minor that failure to comply with the compulsory school attendance laws is an infraction, which may be charged and prosecuted before the juvenile court judge sitting as a superior court judge. In those cases, the petition shall also include notice that the parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of the minor has the right to a hearing on the infraction before a judge different than the judge who has heard or is to hear the proceeding pursuant to Section 601. The notice shall explain the provisions of Section 170.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (i) If a proceeding is pending against a minor child for a violation of Section 594.2, 640.5, 640.6, or 640.7 of the Penal Code, a notice to the parent or legal guardian of the minor that if the minor is found to have violated either or both of these provisions that (1) any community service that may be required of the minor may be performed in the presence, and under the direct supervision, of the parent or legal guardian pursuant to either or both of these provisions, and (2) if the minor is personally unable to pay any fine levied for the violation of either or both of these provisions, that the parent or legal guardian of the minor shall be liable for payment of the fine pursuant to those sections. (j) A notice to the parent or guardian of the minor that if the minor is ordered to make restitution to the victim pursuant to Section 729.6, as operative on or before August 2, 1995, Section 731.1, as operative on or before August 2, 1995, or Section 730.6, or to pay fines or penalty assessments, the parent or guardian may be liable for the payment of restitution, fines, or penalty assessments. (Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 678, Sec. 11. (SB 190) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

petitioninfractionrestitutionschoolcustodyporthearingoffense

Related Statutes

  • § 654.2 Minor Supervision Program Orders
  • § 654.3 Minor Supervision Program Exclusions
  • § 659 Juvenile Court Hearing Notice
  • § 661 Juvenile Court Citation Requirements
  • § 340 Minor Protective Custody Warrants

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 656.
View Official Source