2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title XII - Public Safety and Welfare › Chapter 169-C - Child Protection Act › Section 169-C:16 - Preliminary Disposition.

169-C:16 Preliminary Disposition. –
I. If the court finds sufficient facts to sustain the petition, at a preliminary disposition, the court may:
(a) Permit the child to remain with the parent, relative, guardian, or other custodian, subject to such conditions and limitations as the court may prescribe.
(b) Transfer legal supervision to a child placing agency.
(c) Transfer protective supervision to a child placing agency.
(d) Issue an order of protection setting forth conditions of behavior by a parent, relative, guardian, custodian, or a household member. Such order may require any such person to:
(1) Stay away from the premises, another party, or the child.
(2) Permit a parent or other named person to visit the child at stated periods and under such conditions as the court may order.
(3) Abstain from harmful conduct with respect to the child or any person to whom custody of the child is awarded.
(4) Correct specified deficiencies in the home that make the home a harmful environment for the child.
(5) Refrain from specified acts of commission or omission that make the home a harmful environment for the child.
I-a. Notwithstanding RSA 169-C:25, a copy of each protective order issued pursuant to RSA 169-C:16, I(d)(1) shall be transmitted to the administrative office of the courts electronically or by facsimile. The administrative office of the courts shall enter information regarding the protective order into the state database, which shall be made available to the police and sheriffs' departments statewide. It shall also update the database upon expiration or termination of the order.
II. A neglected or abused child shall not be placed in an institution established for the care and rehabilitation of delinquent children, the youth development center or any institution where an adult is confined.
III. The court may at any time order the child, parents, guardian, custodian, or household member subject to the petition or ex parte order, to submit to a mental health evaluation, or undergo a physical examination or treatment, with a written assessment being provided to the court. The court may order that the child, who is the subject of the petition or the family or both be evaluated by a mental health center or any other psychiatrist, psychologist or psychiatric social worker or family therapist or undergo physical examination or treatment with a written assessment provided to the court. Evaluations performed at a facility providing child inpatient psychiatric treatment within the state mental health system may occur only upon receiving prior approval for such evaluation from the commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
IV. If the child, the parent, guardian or custodian objects to the mental health evaluation, he shall object in writing to the court having jurisdiction within 5 days after notification of the time and place of said evaluation. The court shall hold a hearing to consider the objection prior to ordering said evaluation. Upon good cause shown, the court may excuse the child, the parent, guardian or custodian from the provisions of this section.
V. If an order is made on a person not before the court under subparagraph I(d)(1), it shall be served on such person by a law enforcement officer. A hearing to challenge an order may be requested in writing. The hearing shall be held within 5 days of the request. A request for a hearing shall not stay the effect of the order.
VI. When the party subject to the order has an obligation to support the child in question, the court may order such party to remain out of the residence of the child. When the party subject to the order has no duty to support the child and solely owns or leases the residence of the child, the court may order such party to remain out of the residence of the child for a period of no more than 30 days.
Source.
1979, 361:2. 1985, 195:5. 1990, 3:47. 1994, 411:9-12. 1995, 310:182. 2005, 244:3, eff. Jan. 1, 2006. 2022, 272:46, eff. June 24, 2022.