Record a Court Ruling

You create a ruling record to document the rulings, orders, and dispositions that result from a hearing on an open case in Ohio SACWIS. You can record a stand alone ruling record, or group it to an existing legal action. If you are grouping this ruling to another legal action record, see Record a grouped legal action, then continue at the Record Ruling step below.

 


When the agency has received permanent custody of a child, you must record three separate rulings: one for the legal status change, one for the termination of parental rights (TPR) of the mother, and one for the termination of parental rights of the father. A child is not free for adoption and is not eligible for Title IV-E benefits without TPRs issued for the mother and the father. A father must be added to the case and his relationship identified as the biological father, even if his identity is unknown. (See Review or add case members and Record relationships among case members.)

Record a ruling as follows:

  1. From the Home screen, click the Case tab.

  2. Click the Workload tab. The Case Workload screen appears.

  3. Click the ID Number link for the case you want to update. The Case Overview screen appears.

  4. Click the Legal Actions link in the navigation bar on the left. The Case Legal Actions / Delinquency Participants Filter Criteria screen appears. From this location, you can access and maintain all legal actions associated with this case.

  5. In the Case Legal Actions / Delinquency Participants table; select Maintain Legal Action next to the case participant you want to add a ruling. The Participant Legal Action Filter Criteria screen appears.

  6. In the Participant Legal Action Information table; select Record Ruling from the Legal Action field.

  7. Click the Add Action and Grouping button to record a new ruling. The Ruling Information screen appears.

  8. Enter the Date of Ruling. Select Type of Ruling from the drop down field. Select the ruling(s) from the list, then click Add>>. The rulings you selected appear in the list on the right. Complete all the fields on this screen.

  9. In the Legal Status Information table; click the Add Legal Status button. The Child Legal Status Details screen appears.

  10. Select Legal Status, and Effective Date. Click OK. The Ruling Information screen appears.

  11. If this ruling involves an Appeal or Transfer of Jurisdiction, click the appropriate button. The Appeal Information Details or Transfer Details screens appear. Complete fields on the screen. Some fields are required.

  12. Click OK. You are returned to the Ruling Information screen.

  13. Click the Save button. You are returned to the Participant Legal Action Filter Criteria screen.

  14. Click Close. You are returned to the Case Legal Actions / Delinquency Participants Filter Criteria screen.