Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 77.djvu/619

 77 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 88-241-DEC. 23, 1963

quiry shall include a preliminary investigation of the home and environmental situation of the child, his previous history, and the circumstances that were the subject of the information. Vhen the Director of Social Work Hnds that jurisdiction should be acquired, he shall, after consultation with and approval by the corporation counsel or his assistant assigned to the court, authorize a petition to be filed. "Where the Director fails so to find, the person giving information to the Director may present the facts to the corporation counsel or his assistant, who, after investigation by an oflSicer of the court as herein provided, may authorize a petition to be filed. The proceedings shall be entitled, " I n the matter of, a child under eighteen years of age." The petition shall be verified by the officer making the investigation, or other person having personal knowledge of the case, and shall allege briefly the facts which bring the child within the provisions of section 11-1551, and shall state the name, age, and residence of (1) the child; (2) his parents; (3) his legal guardian, if there be one; (4) the person or persons having custody or control of the child; and (5) the nearest known relative, if no parent or guardian can be found. When any of the facts herein required are not known by the petitioner the petition shall so state. §16-2303. Summons; notice; custody of child After a petition has been filed pursuant to section 16-2302, unless the parties hereinafter named voluntarily appear, the court shall issue a summons reciting briefly the substance of the petition, and requiring the person or persons who have custody or control of the child to appear personally and bring the child before the court at a time and place stated. Where the person so summoned is other than the parent or guardian of the child, the parent or guardian or both shall also be notified of the pendency of the case and of the time and place appointed, by personal service before the hearing, except as hereinafter provided. If the child is married, the other spouse shall also be so notified. Summons may be issued requiring the appearance of any other person whose presence is necessary. Where it appears that the child is in such condition or surroundings that his welfare requires that his custody be immediately assumed by the court, the court may cause to be endorsed upon the summons an order that the officer serving it shall at once take the child into custody. § 16-2304. Service of summons; time of hearing Service of summons issued pursuant to section 16-2303 shall be made personally by the delivery of a true and attested copy to the erson summoned. Where reasonable but unsuccessful efforts have een made to make personal service of summons or notice and it appears that it is impracticable to do so, the court may order service of summons or notice by re^stered mail to the last-known address or by publication, or both, as it deems necessary. I t is sufficient to confer jurisdiction if service is effected at any time before the date fixed in the summons for the return thereof, but, on request of the parent or guardian or person having custody of the child, the hearing on the petition may not take place until three days after service of the summons. ^ The United States marshal for the District of Columbia or his deputy shall execute the orders and processes of the Court in the same manner as he executes those of the United States District Court for

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