§ 27-20.1-09 — Right to counsel

North Dakota § 27-20.1-09

• Jurisdiction: North Dakota
• Title 27: Judicial Branch of Government
• Ch. 27-20.1: Guardianship of a Child

Text

1. If, at any time in the proceeding, the court determines the interests of the child are or
may be inadequately represented and the child is of sufficient age and competency to
assist counsel, the court may appoint an attorney to represent the child. The court
shall make appropriate findings to support the appointment of counsel.
2. At a proceeding commenced under this chapter, a parent who is indigent and unable
to employ legal counsel is entitled to counsel at public expense. If a parent appears
without counsel the court shall ascertain whether the parent knows the parent may be
represented by counsel and that the parent is entitled to counsel at public expense if
indigent. The court may continue the proceeding to enable the parent to obtain
counsel and, subject to this section, counsel must be provided for an unrepresented
indigent parent upon the parent's request and the court's determination that the parent
is indigent.
3. An indigent parent is one who meets the definition of indigent under the guidelines
adopted by the commission on legal counsel for indigents.