Rule 5.710.Six-month review hearing

Division 3. Juvenile Rules · Chapter 12. Cases Petitioned Under Section 300 · Article 4. Reviews, Permanent Planning · Last amended 2018 · Last verified September 10, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5.710 governs the six-month review, where the court decides whether to return the child, continue services toward a twelve-month permanency hearing, or set a hearing to select a permanent plan.

Full Text of Rule 5.710

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Determinations and conduct of hearing (§§ 364, 366, 366.1, 366.21)

At the hearing, the court and all parties must comply with all relevant requirements and procedures in rule 5.708, General review hearing requirements. The court must make all appropriate findings and orders specified in rule 5.708 and proceed under section 366.21(e) and (g), and as follows:

(1) Order return of the child or find that return would be detrimental If the child is returned, the court may order the termination of dependency jurisdiction or order continued dependency services and set a review hearing within 6 months.

(2) Place with noncustodial parent If the court has previously placed or at this hearing places the child with a noncustodial parent, the court must follow the procedures in rule 5.708 (g) and section 361.2.

(3) Set a section 366.26 hearing If the court does not return custody of the child to the parent or legal guardian, the court may set a hearing under section 366.26 within 120 days, as provided in (b).

(4) Continue the case for a 12-month permanency hearing If the child is not returned and the court does not set a section 366.26 hearing, the court must order that any reunification services previously ordered will continue to be offered to the parent or legal guardian, if appropriate. The court may modify those services as appropriate or order additional services reasonably believed to facilitate the return of the child to the parent or legal guardian. The court must set a date for the next hearing no later than 12 months from the date the child entered foster care as defined in section 361.49.

(b) Setting a section 366.26 hearing (§§ 366.21, 366.215)

(1) The court may set a hearing under section 366.26 within 120 days if any of the conditions in section 366.21(e) are met; or the parent is deceased.

(2) At the hearing, the court and all parties must comply with all relevant requirements and procedures related to section 366.26 hearings in rule 5.708, General review hearing requirements. The court must make all appropriate findings and orders specified in rule 5.708.

End

Plain-English Summary

The six-month review runs on the general review rule and then does four things of its own.

First, the central decision: order the child returned, or find that return would be detrimental. If the child goes home, the court may end dependency jurisdiction or keep it with continued services and a review within six months.

Second, where the child is placed with a noncustodial parent — now or earlier — the court follows the noncustodial-parent procedures.

Third, where custody is not returned, the court may set a permanency hearing within 120 days if any of the statutory conditions is met, or if the parent has died.

Fourth, where the child is not returned and no permanency hearing is set, reunification services previously ordered continue to be offered where appropriate. The court may modify them or add services it reasonably believes will help bring the child home, and must set the next hearing no later than 12 months from the date the child entered foster care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens at the six-month review if the child goes home?

The court may terminate dependency jurisdiction, or order continued dependency services and set a review hearing within six months.

When can a permanency hearing be set at the six-month review?

Within 120 days, where custody is not returned and any of the conditions in section 366.21(e) is met — or where the parent is deceased.

What if the child is not returned and no permanency hearing is set?

Reunification services previously ordered continue to be offered where appropriate. The court may modify them or order additional services reasonably believed to facilitate return, and must set the next hearing no later than 12 months from the date the child entered foster care.

Amendment History

Rule 5.710 amended effective January 1, 2018; adopted as rule 1460 effective January 1, 1990; previously amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 1992, January 1, 1993, January 1, 1995, July 1, 1995, July 1, 1997, January 1, 1999, July 1, 1999, January 1, 2000, January 1, 2001, July 1, 2002, January 1, 2004, January 1, 2005, January 1, 2006, January 1, 2010, January 1, 2011, January 1, 2014, January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2017.

Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2018; repealed and adopted as subd (d); relettered as subd (e) effective January 1, 1992; previously amended effective January 1, 1999, July 1, 1999, January 1, 2001, July 1, 2002, January 1, 2004, January 1, 2005, and January 1, 2007; previously amended and relettered as subd (b) effective January 1, 2010, and as subd (a) effective January 1, 2017.) (Subd (b) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2017; repealed and adopted as subd (e); previously amended and relettered as subd (f) effective January 1, 1992; previously amended effective January 1, 1993, January 1, 1995, July 1, 1997, January 1, 1999, July 1, 1999, January 1, 2000, January 1, 2001, July 1, 2002, January 1, 2004, January 1, 2005, January 1, 2006, January 1, 2007, January 1, 2010, January 1, 2011, and January 1, 2014; previously amended and relettered subd (c) effective January 1, 2015.)

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: six month review hearing dependency Californiasection 366.21(e) review hearingreturn of child six month reviewdetriment finding six month review