Rule 5.526.Citation to appear; warrants of arrest; subpoenas
Division 3. Juvenile Rules · Chapter 2. Commencement of Juvenile Court Proceedings · Last amended 2019 · Last verified September 10, 2026
Full Text of Rule 5.526
Plain-English Summary
Four powers, each pointing to its statutory pair for dependency and delinquency. In addition to the ordinary notice, the court may issue a citation directing a parent or guardian to appear at a hearing.
It may order a warrant of arrest against the parent, guardian, or present custodian of the child. It may order a protective custody warrant or a warrant of arrest for the child. And the clerk must issue subpoenas on the court’s own motion or at the request of the petitioner, child, parent, guardian, or present caregiver.
The last of those is worth noting for who may ask: the present caregiver is on the list alongside the parties, so the person actually caring for the child can compel the evidence a hearing needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the court order a parent to appear in a juvenile case?
Yes. In addition to the required notice, the court may issue a citation directing a parent or guardian to appear at a hearing, and may order a warrant of arrest against a parent, guardian, or present custodian.
Who can ask for a subpoena in juvenile court?
The court on its own motion, or the petitioner, child, parent, guardian, or present caregiver. The clerk must then issue it.
Amendment History
Rule 5.526 amended effective January 1, 2019; adopted as rule 1408 effective January 1, 1991; previously amended effective January 1, 2006; previously amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007.
(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2019; previously amended effective January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2007.) (Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2019.) (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2019.) (Subd (d) amended effective January 1, 2019; previously amended effective January 1, 2006.)