The court can make orders for children to be returned to their parents if the magistrate is satisfied that is in the child's best interest.

• No. You do not have to have a final hearing.
• The case only needs to go to final hearing if the parties cannot agree about the orders.
• If the parties can agree on the orders to be made they can ask the magistrate to make those orders. These are called consent orders. If the magistrate agrees to make consent orders then the case does not need to go to hearing.
• The lawyers can help everyone to negotiate consent orders.
• Just because the parties come to an agreement does not necessarily mean the magistrate will make the consent orders. The court will make its own decision about what it considers is in the best interests of the child.