Art. 694. Notice; absent parents

            A. If a parent is absent, the court shall make written findings of fact or include in the minutes whether notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing and the right to attend and be heard was properly served. The court shall permit a case review hearing to be held in the absence of a parent if it is established on the record that the parent was served but is not in attendance or that efforts to serve the parent have been unsuccessful.

            B. If reunification with the absent parent is the case plan goal, the department shall make continuing diligent efforts to locate the absent parent and notify him of the nature and outcome of the case review hearing and shall promptly inform the court of any known or discovered address. Otherwise, the department shall promptly inform the court of any new address of an absent parent that becomes known through the case planning process.

            Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2006, No. 248, §1; Acts 2026, No. 139, §1.