Record a Child's Legal Status

The person record reflects child's legal status. A child may have one active legal status record of each of these types:

You can update an existing legal status or create a new legal status record for a child who is an active member of any open case. (That is, you cannot update the legal status of a child who is not a currently active member of a case.)

The method for updating a child's legal status depends on whether the change is the result of a court ruling. If so, the legal status change is made through the ruling record on the case. If not, the legal status change is recorded on the child's person profile. In either instance, you may need to terminate the previous legal status before you add a new one.

From the Home screen, click the Case tab.
Click the Workload tab. The Case Workload screen appears.
Click the case ID Number link for the case you are updating. The Case Overview screen appears.
Click the Legal Custody/Status link in the menu on the left. The Legal Custody and Status Filter Criteria screen appears.
Click the Maintain Custody Status link next to the case participant. The Legal Information Filter Criteria screen appears.
Click View, Edit or Ruling link for existing custody episodes. Click Add Custody Episode to record new custody episodes. The Child Legal Status Details screen appears.
Select the appropriate Legal Status from the drop down and enter Effective Date.
If you need to terminate a previous legal status record, see Terminate a child's legal status. This is necessary if you are adding a legal status of the same type (child or agency) as an active legal status record.
Click Add Legal Status to create a new legal status record. The Child Legal Status screen appears.
Complete the fields on this screen. You must complete at least the following:

Type
Legal Status
Initial Agency Custody Episode
Effective Date

If you are adding an agency legal status when there is no current placement episode for the child, you must select Yes in the Initial Agency Custody Episode field. This action marks the beginning of the custody episode. It also creates a "Pending" Title IV-E program eligibility record.

However, you do not need to select Yes for Court Ordered Protective Supervision (COPS), COPS Extension, or Temporary COPS.
Click OK. You are returned to the Ruling Information screen.
Click Save. You are returned to the Legal Actions search screen.

Display the child's person profile.
From the Person Information screen, click the SACWIS History link at to top right of the screen. The SACWIS History screen appears.
Select the + Legal Custody Episode & Status History link. The + Protective Services and Custody Episode history appear.
Select Case Member History link. Select the Case ID number link. The Case Overview screen appears.
Select Legal Custody/Status link in the navigation bar on the left. The Legal Custody and Status Filter Criteria screen appears.
Click Maintain Custody/Status link next to the participant's name. The Legal Information Filter Criteria screen appears.
Click View, Edit or Ruling link for existing custody episodes. Click Add Custody Episode to record new custody episodes. The Child Legal Status Details screen appears.
Select the appropriate Legal Status from the drop down and enter Effective Date.
If you need to terminate a previous legal status record, see Terminate a child's legal status. This is necessary if you are adding a legal status of the same type (child or agency) as an active legal status record.
Click Add Legal Status to create a new legal status record. The Child Legal Status screen appears.
Complete the fields on this screen. You must complete at least the following:

Type
Legal Status
Initial Agency Custody Episode
Effective Date

If you are adding an agency legal status when there is no current placement episode for the child, you must select Yes in the Initial Agency Custody Episode field. This action marks the beginning of the custody episode. It also creates a "Pending" Title IV-E program eligibility record.

However, you do not need to select Yes for Court Ordered Protective Supervision (COPS), COPS Extension, or Temporary COPS.
Click OK. You are returned to the Ruling Information screen.
Click Save. You are returned to the Legal Actions search screen.