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Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 571-23

  • Court: means one of the family courts as herein established. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 571-2
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Judge: means judge of the family court. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 571-2
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • minor: means a person less than eighteen years of age. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 571-2
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.

After a petition under section 571-11(1) or (2) is filed in the interest of a minor, and after such investigation as the court may direct, the court shall issue a summons, unless the parties hereinafter named promise in writing to appear voluntarily, requiring the person or persons who have the custody or control of the minor to appear personally and bring the minor before the court at a time and place stated. If the person so summoned is not the parent or guardian of the minor, then the parent or guardian or both shall also be notified, by personal service before the hearing except as herein provided, of the pendency of the case and of the time and place appointed. Summons may be issued requiring the appearance of any other person whose presence, in the opinion of the judge, is necessary. If it appears that the minor is in such condition or surroundings that the minor’s welfare requires taking the minor into custody, the judge may order, by endorsement upon the summons, or otherwise, that the person serving the summons shall take the minor into custody at once. A parent or guardian is entitled to the issuance of compulsory process for the attendance of witnesses on the parent’s or guardian’s own behalf or on behalf of the minor.

Service of summons shall be made personally by the delivery of a copy thereof, together with a copy of the petition, to the person summoned, except that if the judge is satisfied that personal service of the summons or the notice provided for in the preceding paragraph is impracticable, the judge may order service by certified or registered mail addressed to the last known address, or by publication, or both. Service effected not less than forty-eight hours before the time fixed in the summons for the return thereof shall be sufficient to confer jurisdiction, provided that jurisdiction shall be conferred if any person who might be so summoned appears voluntarily at the time and place appointed and waives such service and such notice.

Service of summons, process, or notice required by this chapter may be made by any suitable person under the direction of the court and upon request of the court shall be made by any police officer. The judge may authorize the payment of necessary travel expenses incurred by persons summoned or otherwise required to appear at the hearing of a case coming within the purview of this chapter. Section 621-7 shall apply to persons summoned under this section other than a parent, guardian, or other legal custodian of the child concerned.