Answering Date; Fact-Finding Hearing

(a)When a petition has been filed, the court shall set an answering date to be held within seven working days after the date of the preliminary hearing.

(b)At the answering, if the parties admit the allegations in the petition, the court may issue such orders which it deems to be in the best interests of the child.

(c)If the parties do not admit the allegations in the petition, the case shall be set for a fact-finding hearing within 30 working days of the answering date.

(d)The court shall hear child protective proceedings under this Chapter without a jury. The hearing shall be conducted in an informal manner and may be adjourned from time to time. The general public shall be excluded and only such persons shall be admitted as are found by the court to have a direct interest in the case. The child may be excluded from the hearing at any time at the discretion of the court. If a party is without counsel or a guardian ad litem, the court shall inform the party of the right to be represented by counsel and to appeal.