French Code of civil procedure

The judge may, either of his own motion or at the request of the parties or the public prosecutor, order any measure of information concerning the personality and living conditions of the minor and his parents, in particular by means of a social enquiry, medical examinations, psychiatric and psychological expert reports or an educational investigation and guidance measure.

The provisional measures provided for in the first paragraph of article 375-5 of the Civil Code, as well as the information measures provided for in article 1183 of this code, may only be taken, except in the case of a specially-reasoned emergency, if the hearing prescribed by article 1182, of each of the parents, the guardian, the person or representative of the service to whom the child has been entrusted…

The decision on the merits must be made within six months of the decision ordering the provisional measures, failing which the child will be returned to his parents, guardian, person or service to whom he has been entrusted, at their request. If the investigation is not completed within the period provided for in the previous paragraph, the judge may, after consulting the public prosecutor, extend this period for a period…

The minor who is capable of forming his or her own views, the parents, the guardian or the person or representative of the service to which the child has been entrusted may choose a counsel or ask the judge for the President of the Bar to appoint one for them ex officio. The appointment must be made within eight days of the request. The parties concerned are reminded of this…

As soon as notice is given that the proceedings have been initiated, the file may be consulted at the court registry, up until the day before the hearing or hearing, by the minor’s lawyer and that of his parents or one of their parents, his guardian, or the person or service to whom the child has been entrusted. The lawyer may obtain copies of all or part of the documents…

The children’s judge communicates to the family affairs judge or guardianship judge the documents they request when the parties to the proceedings before the latter are entitled to consult the file by virtue of article 1187. He may withhold certain documents where their production would pose a serious physical or moral danger to the minor, a party or a third party. Under the conditions laid down in articles 1072-2,1180-11 et…

The hearing may be held at the seat of the juvenile court or at the seat of a local chamber located within the jurisdiction, which the summons shall indicate. The parents, guardian or person or service to whom the child has been entrusted and, where applicable, the minor, shall be summoned to the hearing at least eight days before the date of the hearing; counsel for the parties shall also…

At the hearing, the judge hears the minor, his parents, guardian or the person or representative of the service to whom the child has been entrusted, as well as any other person whose testimony he deems useful. The judge may dispense with the minor’s attendance or order that the minor withdraw for all or part of the remainder of the proceedings. The parties’ counsel are heard in their observations. The…

The judge’s decisions are notified within eight days to the parents, guardian or person or service to whom the child has been entrusted, as well as to the minor’s counsel if one has been appointed. The operative part of the decision is notified to the minor over the age of sixteen unless his or her condition does not allow it. However, the decision excluding certain documents from the consultation pursuant…

The judge’s decisions may be appealed: by the parents or one of them, the guardian or the person or service to whom the child has been entrusted until the expiry of a period of fifteen days following notification ; by the minor himself until the expiry of a period of fifteen days following notification and, failing that, following the day on which he became aware of the decision; by the…