Court Hearings

What court hearings will I have when I’m 17?

No more than 90 days after you turn 17, you will have a “17-year-old Judicial Review court hearing” where the court will make sure you have important documents you will need once you turn 18. The purpose of the 17-year-old Judicial Review is to make sure you have everything you need for adulthood.

What will happen at this hearing?

The plan for where you will live once you turn 18 should also be discussed. At this point, the court should also issue an order removing the disability of nonage — which means that you can do things like open your own bank account or sign a lease before you turn 18.

Proof that you have been   given a “Records and Resources” list of all of the records you should get before you turn 18 and all of the resources you should know about must be filed at every Judicial Review after you turn 17. Find a link to that document HERE. A My Pathways to Success Plan should also be filed. You can find a link to that document HERE.

What is the Removal of the Disability of Nonage?

At age 17, your team can request the removal of the disability of nonage from the court — this will let allow you to do things like open a bank account on your own or sign contracts, like a lease for an apartment. You will have to take a financial literacy class before ordering the removal to show that you are prepared for the responsibility. Once the court orders this removal, you will be able to sign contracts or agreements for banking services on your own. Banking services could be opening a checking or savings account.

The removal of nonage will also let you sign a contract, while you’re still 17, to lease a property once you turn 18. If you need to sign a contract for utilities, like water or electric services, or for car insurance, you will be able to do this now. This can help you be prepared for independent living when you turn 18.

What if I need more court hearings to make sure everything is on track for me?

You can have more hearings if they are needed, so be sure to tell the judge, your case manager, or your guardian ad litem or attorney if you have one if you feel you need to have extra court hearings before you turn 18.

You will have one more Judicial Review hearing before you turn 18. The judge will ask if you plan to enter extended foster care and what your qualifying activity will be. The judge will also ask where you will be living and make sure you have been informed of all programs you may qualify for.

Will court hearings continue after I turn 18?

If you are in extended foster care you will have a Judicial Review hearing every 6 months to check in on how you are doing. If you are not in extended foster care but still need services or support that the judge wants to keep up with, the court may keep the case open for one more year. This is called retaining jurisdiction. If you think you may need some extra support from the court but are not entering extended foster care you can request the court to retain jurisdiction.