What Is A Status Hearing?

What Is A Status Hearing - Status Hearing - Status Hearing Definition - Status Hearing Divorce - Status Hearing Family Court

Status Hearing Definition

A status hearing provides the judge with updates on developments on your case. 

For criminal status hearings, the attorneys are updating the judge on sentencing agreements. 

For status hearings in family court, you’re updating the judge on developments like:

  • finding a job 
  • finding a place to live
  • valuing a business or property
  • child custody investigations

What Is A Status Hearing

A status hearing is a pre-trial meeting between the judge, the attorneys, and the parties. 

A status hearing allows attorneys and parties to update the judge on case developments.

Status hearings cover developments on orders from the court.

And the judge will provide the court’s plans for moving the case forward.

Examples of developments are:

  • valuations on a jointly owned business
  • parents finding jobs
  • parents finding a suitable place to live

Examples Of Status Hearings

Let’s talk about examples of status hearings for:

Status Hearing Divorce

A status hearing for divorce is usually resolving issues the couple has. 

Divorce status hearings usually cover issues like:

  • getting the house appraised
  • getting a business appraised
  • a stay at home parent finding a job
  • one spouse finding a place to live

This is not an all-inclusive list for issues brought up in a divorce status hearing. 

But it gives you a good idea of what to expect at your divorce status hearing. 

The judge is looking for updates on the progress you’re making with these issues. 

The judge will inform you of what issues need to get resolved before a status for divorce. 

Status Hearing Family Court

A family court status hearing usually refers to child custody cases

In this status hearing, the judge will review your:

  • employment
  • living situation
  • safety of the child
  • where you’re living
  • child’s accommodations in your home

Let’s assume that you’re going through a status hearing for family court. 

And the judge is figuring out what’s in the child’s best interests

The judge wants both parents to be equally involved in the child’s life. 

But they may think that your situation is not suitable to provide:

  • safe housing
  • food for the child
  • proper medical care
  • transportation to school
  • a place for them to stay (their own bedroom)

If the judge thinks your living situation is unsuitable for the child, they will tell you. 

And they will give you a chance to resolve the issues they are finding. 

Once they give you a list of the issues you need to resolve, they will schedule a status hearing. 

This status hearing in family court gives you the opportunity to update the judge on your progress.

After you resolve the issues, they can issue the child custody orders. 

Read More: What Does Sustained Mean In Court?

What Is A Status Hearing In A Criminal Case

A status hearing in a criminal case is a meeting between the defense and prosecuting attorney. 

For a status hearing in a criminal case, they will discuss:

  • the status of the criminal case
  • exchanging information between each other
  • negotiate sentencing for a criminal case

Sometimes the judge is also involved in a status hearing in a criminal case. 

Can A Case Be Dismissed At A Status Hearing

A case cannot get dismissed at a status hearing. 

But an agreement on the case’s outcome can get reached at a status hearing. 

If an agreement gets reached at a status hearing, a sentencing hearing gets scheduled. 

Sometimes the defense attorney can negotiate successfully with the prosecutor at a status hearing. 

And they can decide on the sentencing for your criminal charges at the status hearing. 

The prosecutor will inform the judge of the agreement that was negotiated. 

And the judge will provide you with your sentencing at the sentencing hearing. 

But the judge does not have to follow the prosecutor’s recommendation. 

They can decide to give you other charges than what was agreed upon. 

That’s why your defense lawyer will not tell you the outcome of the status hearing negotiations.

Read More: Requestor vs Requester 

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