As amended through October 11, 2024
(a) Time for filing. A petition shall be filed by the time of the shelter care hearing or within any additional time, not to exceed five days, permitted by the Court. In cases in which there is no shelter care hearing, the petition shall be filed within seven days after the referral of the complaint to the Court.(b) Contents. The petition shall contain a plain and concise statement of the facts that would give the Family Court jurisdiction. The petition also shall contain the following information or shall specify that such information is unknown: (1) A description of the child, including the name, birth date, and residence address of the child and the current location of the child, unless stating the location would endanger the child or seriously risk disruption of the current placement;(2) The names and residence addresses of the child's parents and the child's legal guardian or other custodian;(3) The specific allegations of neglect or abuse by the parents or other persons responsible for the child's care;(4) Whether the child is hospitalized or has been placed in custody, and, if so, the type of placement or hospitalization and the date the child was placed there;(5) Whether the child or other members of the child's family have been or are the subject of Family Court proceedings; and(6) The date of removal of the child.(c) Amendment. A petition may be amended pursuant to D.C. Code § 16-2305(e) on motion of the District of Columbia or guardian ad litem at any time prior to the conclusion of the fact-finding hearing. The judicial officer shall grant the District of Columbia, the child, and his or her parent, guardian or custodian notice of the amendment and, where necessary, additional time to prepare.(d) Bill of particulars. A motion for a bill of particulars may be made before the initial appearance or shelter care hearing, within seven days after the initial appearance or shelter care hearing, or at such later time as the judicial officer may permit. If the judicial officer finds that a bill of particulars is necessary to inform the moving party of the precise nature of the allegations of neglect, the judicial officer may order the Corporation Counsel to file a bill of particulars within seven days of the judicial officer's order or within such longer or shorter time as justice may require. A copy of the bill of particulars shall be served on all parties. A bill of particulars shall be amended as changes in circumstances require.