SLR 20-11.005: Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)

(1) At the First Appearance Hearing, parents are required to personally appear and admit or deny the allegations of the petition. Parents who are incarcerated will be permitted to appear by simultaneous electronic transmission (e.g., telephone, video). At the First Appearance Hearing, a Best Interest/Settlement Hearing, Pretrial Conference and Trial will be scheduled for the parents. (2) Parents and their attorneys are required to attend the Best Interest/Settlement Hearing, Pretrial Conference and Trial. A separate case assignment hearing date will be scheduled for the attorneys to appear without parents. (3) The Best Interest/Settlement Hearing and Pretrial Conference will be used to discuss trial status and all pretrial issues. Negotiation, trial scheduling and all other pretrial issues shall be resolved prior to trial.