Missouri Laws 211.091 – Petition in juvenile court — contents — dismissal, juvenile officer to ..
1. The petition shall be entitled “In the interest of _______, a child under eighteen years of age”.
2. The petition shall set forth plainly:
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 211.091
- Child: means any person under eighteen years of age. See Missouri Laws 211.021
- Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
- 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.
- Guardian: if used in a section in a context relating to property rights or obligations, means conservator of the estate as defined in chapter 475. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- 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.
- parent: means the mother. See Missouri Laws 211.021
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
(1) The facts which bring the child within the jurisdiction of the court;
(2) The full name, birth date, and residence of the child;
(3) The names and residence of his or her parents, if living;
(4) The name and residence of his or her legal guardian if there be one, of the person having custody of the child or of the nearest known relative if no parent or guardian can be found; and
(5) Any other pertinent data or information.
3. If any facts required in subsection 2 of this section are not known by the petitioner, the petition shall so state.
4. Prior to the voluntary dismissal of a petition filed under this section, the juvenile officer shall assess the impact of such dismissal on the best interests of the child, and shall take all actions practicable to minimize any negative impact.