Rule 5.575.Joinder of agencies

Division 3. Juvenile Rules · Chapter 4. Subsequent Petitions and Modifications · Last amended 2014 · Last verified September 10, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5.575 lets the court join an agency that has failed a legal obligation to provide services to a child — but not impose duties beyond what the law requires.

Full Text of Rule 5.575

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Basis for joinder (§§ 362, 365, 727)

The court may, at any time after a petition has been filed, following notice and a hearing, join in the proceedings any agency (as defined in section 362) that the court determines has failed to meet a legal obligation to provide services to a child or a nonminor or nonminor dependent youth for whom a petition has been filed under section 300, 601, or 602. The court may not impose duties on an agency beyond those required by law.

(b) Notice and hearing

On application by a party, counsel, or CASA volunteer, or on the court’s own motion, the court may set a hearing and require notice to the agency or provider subject to joinder.

(1) Notice of the hearing must be given to the agency on Notice of Hearing on Joinder—Juvenile (form JV-540). The notice must clearly describe the legal obligation at issue, the facts and circumstances alleged to constitute the agency’s failure to meet that obligation, and any issues or questions the court expects the agency to address at the hearing.

(2) The hearing must be set to occur within 30 calendar days of the signing of the notice by the court. The hearing will proceed under the provisions of rule 5.570(h) or (i), as appropriate.

(3) The clerk must cause the notice to be served on the agency and all parties, attorneys of record, the CASA volunteer, any other person or entity entitled to notice under section 291 or 658, and, if the hearing might address educational or developmental-services issues, the educational rights holder by first-class mail within 5 court days of the signing of the notice.

(4) Nothing in this rule prohibits agencies from meeting before the hearing to coordinate the delivery of services. The court may request, using section 8 of form JV-540, that agency representatives meet before the hearing and that the agency or agencies submit a written response to the court at least 5 court days before the hearing.

End

Plain-English Summary

A dependency or delinquency case often depends on services another agency is supposed to deliver — education, mental health, regional centre services. This rule gives the court a way to bring that agency into the proceeding.

At any time after a petition is filed, following notice and a hearing, the court may join any agency it determines has failed to meet a legal obligation to provide services to the child, nonminor, or nonminor dependent. The limit is stated in the same sentence: the court may not impose duties on an agency beyond those required by law.

The notice is unusually specific about what it must say. It must clearly describe the legal obligation at issue, the facts and circumstances alleged to constitute the failure, and any questions the court expects the agency to address — so the agency arrives able to answer rather than merely present. The hearing is set within 30 calendar days of the court signing the notice, and the clerk serves it on the agency, the parties, attorneys, the CASA volunteer, anyone else entitled to notice, and — where educational or developmental-services issues may arise — the educational rights holder, within 5 court days.

Nothing stops agencies from meeting beforehand to coordinate, and the court may ask them to do so and to submit a written response at least 5 court days before the hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the court order another agency to provide services?

It may join an agency that has failed to meet a legal obligation to provide services, after notice and a hearing — but it may not impose duties on an agency beyond those required by law.

Who can ask for joinder?

A party, counsel, or the CASA volunteer may apply, or the court may act on its own motion.

What must the notice tell the agency?

It must clearly describe the legal obligation at issue, the facts and circumstances alleged to constitute the agency’s failure to meet it, and any issues or questions the court expects the agency to address at the hearing.

Amendment History

Rule 5.575 amended effective January 1, 2014; adopted as rule 1434 effective January 1, 2002; previously amended effective January 1, 2006; amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007.

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2014; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.) (Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2014; previously amended effective January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2007.)

Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California. Last verified September 10, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: joinder of agency juvenile CaliforniaJV-540 notice of hearing on joindersection 362 agency joinder