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Few questions weigh on parents more than how long a juvenile dependency case will last. Waiting to find out whether your child will come home is exhausting, and the uncertainty can make every hearing feel like it carries the weight of the entire case. While no two cases move at the same pace, California law sets clear outer limits at each stage, which gives families a real framework for what to expect.
A dependency case typically begins when a child is removed from a parent’s custody, and a petition is filed with the juvenile court. The detention hearing must be held within a day or two of removal, not counting weekends and holidays. At this hearing, the court decides whether the child will remain out of the home while the case moves forward and, if so, where the child will be placed.
The jurisdiction hearing determines whether the allegations in the petition are true. If the court finds they are, the case moves to disposition, where the judge decides whether the child will be a dependent of the court, where the child will live, and what services the parents must complete to work toward reunification. These two hearings are often combined and generally take place within about a month of the petition being filed, though contested cases can take longer.
Once the court orders reunification services, the case is reviewed roughly every six months to check on progress. At the first review hearing, the court looks at whether the parent has engaged with services such as counseling, drug treatment, or parenting classes, and whether returning the child would create a substantial risk of harm.
For children under the age of three at the time of removal, this six-month hearing carries extra weight. If the court finds returning the child would be unsafe, it can move directly toward terminating reunification services and setting a hearing to select a permanent plan, rather than allowing the case to continue for a full year.
For children who were three or older at removal, reunification services can generally continue up to eighteen months from the date of protective custody, reviewed under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.22. In limited circumstances, such as a parent making significant progress in a residential treatment program, the court can extend services further toward a twenty-four-month hearing under section 366.25. These extensions are the exception rather than the rule and require the court to make specific findings by clear and convincing evidence.
If a child cannot safely return home once reunification services end, the court sets a hearing under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26 to select a permanent plan, generally within 120 days. At this hearing, the court considers options that include adoption, legal guardianship, or another planned permanent living arrangement. This is often the most consequential hearing in the entire case, since it can result in the termination of parental rights.
If a child is not returned home and a plan such as guardianship is chosen, the court continues reviewing the case at least every six months under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.3 until the child reaches permanency through adoption, until guardianship is finalized, or until the child ages out of the system.
These timelines represent outer limits set by statute, not a guarantee. Some cases resolve faster when a parent quickly completes services, and the child returns home at the first review. Others take longer when a case is contested, when a parent needs more time in treatment, or when the court finds that reasonable services were not actually provided. Continuances, appeals, and disputes over visitation or placement can also extend a case well beyond its original schedule.
Every family’s timeline looks a little different, and the stakes at each hearing are high. Understanding exactly where your case stands and what deadline is coming next can make the difference between reunification and a much longer road.
The dependency team at ALL Trial Lawyers has guided thousands of families through juvenile dependency court across California. If you want to understand where your case stands or what to expect at your next hearing, call us at (866) 811-4255 for a free consultation.
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Mohammad Abuershaid, professionally known as Mo Abuershaid, is the founding partner of ALL Trial Lawyers and one of California’s most trusted authorities in dependency law, juvenile dependency cases, CPS defense, and high stakes CPS cases.