Maine § 19-A §1507 Appointment of guardian ad litem in contested proceedings

Maine Statutes

§ 19-A §1507 — Appointment of guardian ad litem in contested proceedings

Maine § 19-A §1507

Title 19-ADOMESTIC RELATIONS

Part 3PARENTS AND CHILDREN

Ch. 51GENERAL PROVISIONS

This text of Maine § 19-A §1507 (Appointment of guardian ad litem in contested proceedings) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 19-A §1507 (2026).

Text

1.Guardian ad litem; appointment. In contested proceedings under sections 904, 1653 and 1803 in which a minor child is involved, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the child. The appointment may be made at any time, but the court shall make every effort to make the appointment as soon as possible after the commencement of the proceeding. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem when the court has reason for special concern as to the welfare of a minor child. In determining whether an appointment must be made, the court shall consider:

2.Qualifications. A guardian ad litem appointed on or after March 1, 2000 must meet the qualifications established by the Supreme Judicial Court.

3.Duties. The guardian ad litem has both mandatory and optional duties.

4.Best interest of the ch

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

1.
Guardian ad litem; appointment.
In contested proceedings under sections 904, 1653 and 1803 in which a minor child is involved, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the child. The appointment may be made at any time, but the court shall make every effort to make the appointment as soon as possible after the commencement of the proceeding. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem when the court has reason for special concern as to the welfare of a minor child. In determining whether an appointment must be made, the court shall consider:
2.
Qualifications.
A guardian ad litem appointed on or after March 1, 2000 must meet the qualifications established by the Supreme Judicial Court.
3.
Duties.
The guardian ad litem has both mandatory and optional duties.
4.
Best interest of the child.
The guardian ad litem shall use the standard of the best interest of the child as set forth in section 1653, subsection 3. The guardian ad litem shall make the wishes of the child known to the court if the child has expressed them, regardless of the recommendation of the guardian ad litem.
5.
Written report.
A guardian ad litem shall make a final written report to the parties and the court reasonably in advance of the hearing. The report is admissible as evidence and subject to cross-examination and rebuttal, whether or not objected to by a party.
6.
Court's agent.
A person serving as a guardian ad litem under this section acts as the court's agent and is entitled to quasi-judicial immunity for acts performed within the scope of the duties of the guardian ad litem.
7.
Payment for services.
Payment for the services of the guardian ad litem is the responsibility of the parties, as ordered by the court. In determining the responsibility for payment, the court shall consider:
8.
Notice.
A guardian ad litem must be given notice of all civil or criminal hearings and proceedings, including, but not limited to, grand juries, in which the child is a party or a witness. The guardian ad litem shall protect the best interests of the child in those hearings and proceedings, unless otherwise ordered by the court.

Legislative History

PL 1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 257, §§2-4 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 257, §6 (AFF). PL 1999, c. 251, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 253, §3 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 360, §2 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 683, §B9 (AMD).