Rule 3.965.Preliminary Hearing

Subchapter 3.900 — Proceedings Involving Juveniles · Last verified September 5, 2026

In one sentenceMCR 3.965 requires the preliminary hearing to commence no later than 24 hours after a child is taken into protective custody, excluding Sundays and holidays, lists the advice and inquiries the court must make, sets the five criteria for ordering foster care placement, and requires contrary to the welfare and reasonable efforts findings.

Full Text of Rule 3.965

Text sizeJump to: (A) (B) (C) (D)

(A) Time for Preliminary Hearing.

(1) Child in Protective Custody. The preliminary hearing must commence no later than 24 hours after the child has been taken into protective custody, excluding Sundays and holidays, as defined by MCR 8.110(D)(2), unless adjourned for good cause shown, or the child must be released.

(2) Seriously Physically Harmed or Sexually Abused Child. When the Department of Health and Human Services submits a petition in cases in which the child has been seriously physically harmed, as that term is defined in MCL 722.622, or sexually abused, and subrule (A)(1) does not apply, the preliminary hearing must commence no later than 24 hours after the agency submits a petition or on the next business day following the submission of the petition.

(B) Procedure.

(1) The court must determine if the parent, guardian, or legal custodian has been notified, and if the lawyer-guardian ad litem for the child is present. The preliminary hearing may be adjourned for the purpose of securing the appearance of an attorney, parent, guardian, or legal custodian or may be conducted in the absence of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian if notice has been given or if the court finds that a reasonable attempt to give notice was made.

(2) The court must inquire if the child or either parent is a member of an Indian tribe. If the court knows or has reason to know the child is an Indian child, the court must determine the identity of the child's tribe and, if the child was taken into protective custody pursuant to MCR 3.963(A) or the petition requests removal of the child, follow the procedures set forth in MCR 3.967. If necessary, the court may adjourn the preliminary hearing pending the conclusion of the removal hearing. A removal hearing may be held in conjunction with the preliminary hearing if all necessary parties have been notified as required by MCR

3.905, there are no objections by the parties to do so, and at least one qualified expert witness is present to provide testimony.

(3) The child's lawyer-guardian ad litem must be present to represent the child at the preliminary hearing. The court may make temporary orders for the protection of the child pending the appearance of an attorney or pending the completion of the preliminary hearing. The court must direct that the lawyer-guardian ad litem for the child receive a copy of the petition.

(4) If the respondent is present, the court must assure that the respondent has a copy of the petition. The court must read the allegations in the petition in open court, unless waived.

(5) The court shall determine if the petition should be dismissed or the matter referred to alternate services. If the court so determines the court must release the child. Otherwise, the court must continue the hearing.

(6) The court must advise the respondent of the right to the assistance of an attorney at the preliminary hearing and any subsequent hearing pursuant to MCR 3.915(B)(1)(a).

(7) The court must advise the respondent of the right to trial on the allegations in the petition and that the trial may be before a referee unless a demand for a jury or judge is filed pursuant to MCR 3.911 or 3.912.

(8) The court must advise a nonrespondent parent of his or her right to seek placement of his or her children in his or her home.

(9) The court shall allow the respondent an opportunity to deny or admit the allegations and make a statement of explanation.

(10) The court must inquire whether the child is subject to the continuing jurisdiction of another court and, if so, which court.

(11) The court may adjourn the hearing for up to 14 days to secure the attendance of witnesses or for other good cause shown. If the court knows or has reason to know the child is an Indian, the court may adjourn the hearing for up to 21 days to ensure proper notice to the tribe or Secretary of the Interior as required by MCR 3.920(C)(1). If the preliminary hearing is adjourned, the court may make temporary orders for the placement of the child when necessary to assure the immediate safety of the child, pending the completion of the preliminary hearing and subject to subrule (C), and as applicable, MCR 3.967.

(12) Unless the preliminary hearing is adjourned, the court must decide whether to authorize the filing of the petition and, if authorized, whether the child should remain in the home, be returned home, or be placed in foster care pending trial. The court may authorize the filing of the petition upon a showing of probable cause, unless waived, that one or more of the allegations in the petition are true and fall within MCL 712A.2(b). The Michigan Rules of Evidence do not apply, other than those with respect to privileges, except to the extent that such privileges are abrogated by MCL 722.631.

(13) If the court authorizes the filing of the petition, the court:

(a) may release the child to a parent, guardian, or legal custodian and may order such reasonable terms and conditions believed necessary to protect the physical health or mental well-being of the child; or

(b) may order placement of the child after making the determinations specified in subrule (C), if those determinations have not previously been made. If the child is an Indian child, the child must be placed in descending order of preference with:

(i) a member of the child's extended family,

(ii) a foster home licensed, approved, or specified by the child's tribe,

(iii) an Indian foster family licensed or approved by the department,

(iv) an institution for children approved by an Indian tribe or operated by an Indian organization that has a program suitable to meet the child's needs.

The court may order another placement for good cause shown in accordance with MCL 712B.23(3)-(5). If the Indian child's tribe has established a different order of preference than the order prescribed above, placement shall follow that tribe's order of preference as long as the placement is the least restrictive setting appropriate to the particular needs of the child, as provided in MCL 712B.23(6). The standards to be applied in meeting the preference requirements above shall be the prevailing social and cultural standards of the Indian community in which the parent or extended family resides or with which the parent or extended family members maintain social and cultural ties.

(14) The court must inquire of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian regarding the identity of relatives of the child who might be available to provide care. If the father of the child has not been identified, the court must inquire of the mother regarding the identity and whereabouts of the father.

(15) If the court orders removal of the child from a parent's care or custody, the court shall advise the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the right to appeal that action.

(1) Placement; Proofs. If the child was not released under subrule (B), the court shall receive evidence, unless waived, to establish that the criteria for placement set forth in subrule 3.965(C)(2) are present. The respondent shall be given an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses, to subpoena witnesses, and to offer proofs to counter the admitted evidence.

(2) Criteria. The court may order placement of the child into foster care if the court finds all of the following:

(a) Custody of the child with the parent presents a substantial risk of harm to the child's life, physical health, or mental well-being.

(b) No provision of service or other arrangement except removal of the child is reasonably available to adequately safeguard the child from the risk as described in subrule (a).

(d) Consistent with the circumstances, reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child.

(e) Conditions of child custody away from the parent are adequate to safeguard the child's health and welfare.

(3) Contrary to the Welfare Findings. Contrary to the welfare findings must be made. If placement is ordered, the court must make a statement of findings, in writing or on the record, explicitly including the finding that it is contrary to the welfare of the child to remain at home and the reasons supporting that finding. If the "contrary to the welfare of the child" finding is placed on the record and not in a written statement of findings, it must be capable of being transcribed. The findings may be made on the basis of hearsay evidence that possesses adequate indicia of trustworthiness. If continuing the child's residence in the home is contrary to the welfare of the child, the court shall not return the child to the home, but shall order the child placed in the most family-like setting available consistent with the child's needs.

(4) Reasonable Efforts Findings. Reasonable efforts findings must be made. In making the reasonable efforts determination under this subrule, the child's health and safety must be of paramount concern to the court. When the court has placed a child with someone other than the custodial parent, guardian, or legal custodian, the court must determine whether reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child have been made or that reasonable efforts to prevent removal are not required. The court must make this determination at the earliest possible time, but no later than 60 days from the date of removal, and must state the factual basis for the determination in the court order. Nunc pro tunc orders or affidavits are not acceptable. Reasonable efforts to prevent a child's removal from the home are not required if a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that

(a) the parent has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances as listed in sections 18(1) and (2) of the Child Protection Law, MCL 722.638(1) and (2); or

(b) the parent has been convicted of 1 or more of the following:

(i) murder of another child of the parent,

(ii) voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent,

(iii) aiding or abetting, attempting, conspiring, or soliciting to commit such a murder or such a voluntary manslaughter, or

(iv) a felony assault that results in serious bodily injury to the child or another child of the parent; or

(d) the parent is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act.

(5) Record Checks; Home Study. If the child has been placed in a relative's home,

(a) the court may order the Department of Health and Human Services to report the results of a criminal record check and central registry clearance of the residents of the home to the court before, or within 7 days after, the placement, and

(b) the court must order the Department of Health and Human Services to perform a home study with a copy to be submitted to the court not more than 30 days after the placement.

(6) No Right to Bail. No one has the right to post bail in a protective proceeding for the release of a child in the custody of the court.

(7) Parenting Time or Visitation.

(a) Unless the court suspends parenting time pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(4), or unless the child has a guardian or legal custodian, the court must permit each parent frequent parenting time with a child in placement unless parenting time, even if supervised, may be harmful to the child.

(b) If the child was living with a guardian or legal custodian, the court must determine what, if any, visitation will be permitted with the guardian or legal custodian.

(8) Medical Information. Unless the court has previously ordered the release of medical information, the order placing the child in foster care must include:

(a) an order that the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian provide the supervising agency with the name and address of each of the child's medical providers, and

(b) an order that each of the child's medical providers release the child's medical records.

(D) Advice; Initial Service Plan. If placement is ordered, the court must, orally or in writing, inform the parties:

(1) that the agency designated to care and supervise the child will prepare an initial service plan no later than 30 days after the placement;

(2) that participation in the initial service plan is voluntary unless otherwise ordered by the court;

(3) that the general elements of an initial service plan include:

(a) the background of the child and the family,

(b) an evaluation of the experiences and problems of the child,

(d) an identification of specific goals and projected time frames for meeting the goals;

(4) that, on motion of a party, the court will review the initial service plan and may modify the plan if it is in the best interests of the child; and

(5) that the case may be reviewed for concurrent planning.

The court shall direct the agency to identify, locate, and consult with relatives to determine if placement with a relative would be in the child's best interests, as required by MCL 722.954a(2). In a case to which MCL 712A.18f(6) applies, the court shall require the agency to provide the name and address of the child's attending physician of record or primary care physician.

End

Plain-English Summary

MCR 3.965 is the first hearing of a child protective case and does more work than any other single rule in the subchapter. It decides whether the petition will be authorized, where the child lives until trial, and what the parties are told about their rights and about the plan the agency will write.

The 24-hour clock

Subrule (A)(1) requires the preliminary hearing to begin no later than 24 hours after the child was taken into protective custody, excluding Sundays and holidays as defined by MCR 8.110(D)(2). If it does not begin in that window and no adjournment for good cause has been granted, the child must be released. Subrule (A)(2) adds a second trigger for cases where the child has not been taken into custody: when the department submits a petition in a case involving a child who has been seriously physically harmed or sexually abused, the hearing must start within 24 hours of submission or on the next business day.

What happens at the hearing

Subrule (B) sets a sequence. The court checks notice and confirms that the child's lawyer-guardian ad litem is present, since subrule (B)(3) requires that lawyer at the hearing. The court asks whether the child or either parent is a member of an Indian tribe. If it knows or has reason to know the child is an Indian child, it must determine the identity of the tribe, and it follows the procedures in MCR 3.967 where the child was taken into protective custody under MCR 3.963(A) or the petition requests removal. It reads the allegations in open court unless waived, decides whether the petition should be dismissed or the matter sent to alternate services, and gives the respondent a chance to deny or admit the allegations.

The advice runs through several subrules: the right to an attorney, the right to trial and the possibility that a referee will hear it absent a demand under MCR 3.911 or 3.912, a nonrespondent parent's right to seek placement of the children in that parent's home, and, if removal is ordered, the right to appeal. The court also asks about relatives available to provide care and, where the father has not been identified, asks the mother about his identity and whereabouts.

Subrule (B)(11) allows an adjournment of up to 14 days to secure witnesses or for other good cause, extended to 21 days where the court knows or has reason to know the child is an Indian child and notice to the tribe or the Secretary of the Interior is required. Subrule (B)(12) sets the authorization standard: probable cause, unless waived, that one or more allegations are true and fall within the statute. Most of the Michigan Rules of Evidence do not apply, other than those on privileges.

Pretrial placement

Subrule (C)(2) permits foster care placement only if the court finds all five criteria: substantial risk of harm from custody with the parent, no service or arrangement short of removal that would safeguard the child, that continuing residence in the home is contrary to the child's welfare, reasonable efforts to prevent removal consistent with the circumstances, and adequate conditions of custody away from the parent. The respondent may cross-examine, subpoena witnesses, and offer counter proofs.

Two findings are mandatory. The contrary to the welfare finding under subrule (C)(3) must be explicit and either written or capable of transcription, and it may rest on hearsay with adequate indicia of trustworthiness. The reasonable efforts finding under subrule (C)(4) must come no later than 60 days from the date of removal, must state its factual basis in the order, and cannot be supplied by a nunc pro tunc order or affidavit. That subrule also lists the circumstances in which reasonable efforts are not required.

Relative homes, parenting time, and the service plan

For a relative placement, subrule (C)(5) allows a record check and central registry clearance before or within 7 days after placement, and requires a home study submitted within 30 days.
Subrule (C)(6) states that no one has the right to post bail for the release of a child in the court's custody.
Subrule (C)(7) requires the court to permit each parent frequent parenting time with a child in placement, unless the court has suspended parenting time under MCL 712A.19b(4), the child has a guardian or legal custodian, or parenting time, even if supervised, may be harmful to the child. Where the child was living with a guardian or legal custodian, the court decides what visitation with that person is allowed.
Subrule (C)(8) requires the foster care placement order, unless the court has already ordered the release of medical information, to direct the parent, guardian, or legal custodian to give the supervising agency the name and address of each of the child's medical providers, and to direct each of those providers to release the child's medical records.
Subrule (D) tells the parties that the agency will prepare an initial service plan no later than 30 days after placement and describes what that plan contains.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon must a preliminary hearing be held after a child is removed in Michigan?

Subrule (A)(1) requires the hearing to commence no later than 24 hours after the child was taken into protective custody, excluding Sundays and holidays as defined by MCR 8.110(D)(2). If the hearing does not begin in that time and no adjournment for good cause has been granted, the child must be released.

What must the court find to place a child in foster care at the preliminary hearing?

All five criteria in subrule (C)(2): custody with the parent presents a substantial risk of harm to the child's life, physical health, or mental well-being; no service or arrangement other than removal is reasonably available to safeguard the child; continuing the child's residence in the home is contrary to the child's welfare; reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal; and conditions of custody away from the parent are adequate to safeguard the child's health and welfare.

When must the reasonable efforts finding be made?

Subrule (C)(4) requires the court to make the determination at the earliest possible time and no later than 60 days from the date of removal, and to state the factual basis in the court order. The subrule states that nunc pro tunc orders or affidavits are not acceptable.

How long can a preliminary hearing be adjourned?

Subrule (B)(11) allows up to 14 days to secure the attendance of witnesses or for other good cause. Where the court knows or has reason to know the child is an Indian child, the adjournment may run up to 21 days to ensure proper notice to the tribe or the Secretary of the Interior under MCR 3.920(C)(1). During an adjournment the court may enter temporary placement orders needed for the child's immediate safety.

What happens when a child is placed with a relative?

Under subrule (C)(5), the court may order the Department of Health and Human Services to report the results of a criminal record check and central registry clearance before the placement or within 7 days after it, and the court must order a home study with a copy submitted no more than 30 days after the placement.

Do the rules of evidence apply at the preliminary hearing?

Mostly not. Subrule (B)(12) states that the Michigan Rules of Evidence do not apply other than those with respect to privileges, and even those privileges yield to the extent MCL 722.631 abrogates them. The authorization standard is probable cause, unless waived, that one or more allegations in the petition are true.

Source & verification. Rule text reproduced verbatim from the Michigan Court Rules, Chapter 3 (Special Proceedings and Actions), as published by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office, current through September 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Michigan (Mich. Const. 1963, art. VI, § 5). Last verified September 5, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: preliminary hearingpretrial placementcontrary to the welfarereasonable efforts findingauthorize the petition24 hour hearinginitial service plan