Section 15-11-160. (Effective January 1, 2014) Issuance of summons

   (a) The court shall direct the issuance of a summons to a child if such child is 14 years of age or older, such child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian, such child's attorney, such child's guardian ad litem, if any, and any other persons who appear to the court to be proper or necessary parties to the proceeding, requiring them to appear before the court at the time fixed to answer the allegations of the petition alleging dependency. A copy of the petition alleging dependency shall accompany the summons unless the summons is served by publication, in which case the published summons shall indicate the general nature of the allegations and where a copy of the petition alleging dependency can be obtained.

(b) A summons shall state that a party is entitled to an attorney in the proceedings and that the court will appoint an attorney if the party is an indigent person.

(c) The court may endorse upon the summons an order directing a child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian to appear personally at the hearing and directing the person having the physical custody or control of a child to bring such child to the hearing.

(d) A party other than a child may waive service of summons by written stipulation or by voluntary appearance at the hearing.

Code 1981, § 15-11-160, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.