New Jersey Statutes 9:6-8.35. Preliminary procedure
Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 9:6-8.35
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- 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.
- 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: as used in this chapter , shall include the stepfather and stepmother and the adoptive or resource family parent. See New Jersey Statutes 9:6-2
- person: includes corporations, companies, associations, societies, firms, partnerships and joint stock companies as well as individuals, unless restricted by the context to an individual as distinguished from a corporate entity or specifically restricted to one or some of the above enumerated synonyms and, when used to designate the owner of property which may be the subject of an offense, includes this State, the United States, any other State of the United States as defined infra and any foreign country or government lawfully owning or possessing property within this State. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
a. Confer with any person seeking to file a complaint, the potential respondent, and other interested persons concerning the advisability of filing a complaint under this act; and
b. Attempt to adjust suitable cases before a complaint is filed over which the court apparently would have jurisdiction.
c. The division shall not prevent any person or agency who wishes to file a complaint under this act from having access to the court for that purpose.
d. Efforts at adjustment under this section may not extend for a period of more than 30 days without an order of a judge of the court, who may extend the period for an additional 30 days.
e. Such adjustment may include a preliminary conference held by the division at its discretion upon written notice to the parent or guardian and the potential complainant for the purpose of attempting such adjustment, provided however that the division shall not be authorized under this section to compel any person to appear at any conference, produce any papers, or visit any place.
f. The Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part and the division shall deal with cases involving imminent physical harm or actual physical harm on a priority basis.
L.1974,c.119,s.15; amended 1977, c.209, s.14; 1991, c.91, s.205; 1999, c.53, s.12.