Directive #04-23 – Family – Children in Court (CIC) – Revised Judgment of Guardianship (CN 10265).

This promulgates a revised Judgment of Guardianship (CN 10265) to be used when the court terminates parental rights in matters filed by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) in the Department of Children and Families. The revised form of judgment, approved by the Judicial Council, provides that notice must be given to all parties of any modifications to visitation ordered in the Judgment of Guardianship. 

In some instances, the court may order visitation between a parent and child after the parent's rights are terminated. Those visitation terms are set forth in the Judgment of Guardianship. The following new notice provision in the Judgment of Guardianship addresses those instances where a parent's right to court-ordered post-termination visitation has been changed: "Any modifications to visitation ordered in this judgment must be made on notice to all parties." IfDCP&P suspends or modifies the visitation, DCP&P is to contact the other parties to resolve the issue or so that those affected by the change in visitation have the opportunity to seek relief from the court.