CHAPTER 9. ANSWER TO PETITION

Art. 646. Answer; appearance; objection

            A. The court shall require the parent to appear and to answer the petition at any time prior to the adjudication hearing but no later than fifteen days after the filing of the petition.

            B. If the petition is filed prior to or during the hearing to determine continued custody, the court may order the parent to answer the petition upon completion of the hearing.

            C. At the appearance, the court may either convene immediately a prehearing conference authorized by Article 646.1, or set a date for the conference.

            D. At this hearing, the parent shall be asked to provide an electronic mail address at which the parent is willing to receive service and notice of future proceedings. The court shall advise the parent that once an electronic mail address is provided, all service and notice of future proceedings may be sent electronically until such time he provides notice to the court and all parties in writing or in open court that he is no longer able to receive service or notice at such address.

            E. The court may schedule future hearings and serve notice in open court.

            Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2015, No. 124, §1, eff. June 19, 2015.