(a)Time. The court must conduct a hearing in time to rule on the application as required by Rule 2.5(d). But the minor may postpone the hearing by written request to the clerk when the application is filed or thereafter. The request may be submitted on Form 2C, but use of the form is not required. The request must either specify a date on which the minor will be ready for the hearing, or state that the minor will later provide a date on which she will be ready for the hearing. Once the minor determines when she will be ready for the hearing, she must notify the clerk of that time in writing. The postponed hearing must be conducted in time for the court to rule on the application as required by Rule 2.5(d).(b)Place. The hearing should be held in a location, such as a judge's chambers, that will assure confidentiality. The hearing may be held away from the courthouse.(c)Persons attending. Hearings must be closed to the public. Only the judge, the court reporter and any other essential court personnel, the minor, her attorney, her guardian ad litem, and witnesses on the minor's behalf may be present.(d)Record. The court, the minor's attorney, or the guardian ad litem may request that the record - the clerk's record and reporter's record - be prepared. A request by the minor's attorney or guardian ad litem must be in writing and may be, but is not required to be, on Form 2I (if an appeal will be taken) or 2J (if an appeal will not be taken). The court reporter must provide an original and two copies of the reporter's record to the clerk. When the record has been prepared, the clerk must contact the minor's attorney and the guardian ad litem at the telephone numbers shown on Form 2I or 2J and make it available to them. The record must be prepared and made available instanter if it has been requested for appeal or if a belief that there is evidence of past or potential abuse of the minor is stated on the record or submitted to the court in writing. When a notice of appeal is filed, the clerk must forward the record to the court of appeals in accordance with Rule 3.2(b).(e)Hearing to be informal. The court should attempt to rule on the application without regard to technical defects in the application or the evidence. Affidavits of persons other than applicants are admissible. Statements in the application cannot be offered as evidence to support the application. If necessary, the court may assist the minor in remedying technical defects in the application and in presenting relevant and material facts.Tex. Parent. Noti. R. And. Form. 2.4
Amended effective 3/1/2007.