Maine § 4 §1555 Appointment of guardians ad litem in Title 18-C and Title 19-A cases

Maine Statutes

§ 4 §1555 — Appointment of guardians ad litem in Title 18-C and Title 19-A cases

Maine § 4 §1555

Title 4JUDICIARY

Ch. 32CHILDREN'S GUARDIANS AD LITEM

This text of Maine § 4 §1555 (Appointment of guardians ad litem in Title 18-C and Title 19-A cases) 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. 4, § 4 §1555 (2026).

Text

1.Appointment of guardian ad litem. In proceedings to determine parental rights and responsibilities and guardianship of a minor under Title 18‑C and in contested proceedings pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 904, 1653 or 1803 in which a minor child is involved, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the child when the court has reason for special concern as to the welfare of the child. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem on the court's own motion, on the motion of one of the parties or upon agreement of the parties.

2.Order. An appointment of a guardian ad litem must be by court order.

3.Payment for services; fees and billing; enforcement. The order under subsection 2 must specify that payment for the services of the guardian ad litem is the responsibility of the parties, wi

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1.
Appointment of guardian ad litem.
In proceedings to determine parental rights and responsibilities and guardianship of a minor under Title 18‑C and in contested proceedings pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 904, 1653 or 1803 in which a minor child is involved, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the child when the court has reason for special concern as to the welfare of the child. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem on the court's own motion, on the motion of one of the parties or upon agreement of the parties.
2.
Order.
An appointment of a guardian ad litem must be by court order.
3.
Payment for services; fees and billing; enforcement.
The order under subsection 2 must specify that payment for the services of the guardian ad litem is the responsibility of the parties, with the terms of payment specified in the order.
4.
Best interests of the child.
In performance of duties specified in the appointment order, the guardian ad litem shall use the standard of the best interests of the child.
5.
Wishes of the child.
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.
6.
Report.
The guardian ad litem shall provide a copy of each report ordered by the court to the parties and the court at least 14 days before each report is due. A guardian ad litem shall provide a copy of the final written report to the parties and the court at least 14 days in advance of the final hearing. Reports are admissible as evidence and subject to cross-examination and rebuttal, whether or not objected to by a party. Any objections to a report must be filed at least 7 days before the applicable hearing.

Legislative History

PL 2013, c. 406, §1 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. C, §11 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF). RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §3 (COR).