26-7A-54. Advisory hearing before adjudicatory hearing.
On appearance of the parties pursuant to summons or at any adjournment or continuance of an appearance, the court shall conduct an advisory hearing before the adjudicatory hearing on the petition, as follows:
(1)The court shall first:
(a)Ascertain the need for any joinder or deletion of parties, determine true names and addresses of parties and their relationships to the child, and determine the true name, date and place of birth, address, and custodial status of the child;
(b)Advise the parties of the nature of the proceedings, the allegations contained in the petition, the burden of proof of the state and the constitutional and statutory rights of the parties; and
(c)Advise the parties of their rights to be represented by attorneys and requirements for court-appointed attorney, if appropriate, and, if requested by any party or if required by the court, the court may adjourn and continue the advisory hearing to a time, date, and place set by the court to afford opportunity for parties to consult with their attorneys; and
(2)The court shall then receive the answer, response, denial, or admission of the parties and, if appropriate, of the child as follows:
(a)If the petition alleges the child to be abused or neglected, parents, guardian, or custodian of the child may admit the allegations contained in the petition and the court may accept the admissions if the court is satisfied there is a factual basis for them;
(b)If the petition alleges a child to be in need of supervision, parents, guardian, or custodian of the child and the child may admit the allegations contained in the petition and the court may accept the admissions if the court is satisfied there is a factual basis for them;
(c)If the petition alleges the child to be delinquent, the child may admit the allegations contained in the petition and the court may accept the admission if the court is satisfied there is a factual basis for them.
Source: SL 1991, ch 217, §67.