CHAPTER 6. APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIANS AD LITEM AND COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES IN DISSOLUTION AND LEGAL SEPARATION ACTIONS - Indiana Statutes

IC 31-15-6
     Chapter 6. Appointment of Guardians Ad Litem and Court Appointed Special Advocates in Dissolution and Legal Separation Actions

IC 31-15-6-1
Appointment
     Sec. 1. A court in a proceeding under this article may appoint:
        (1) a guardian ad litem;
        (2) a court appointed special advocate; or
        (3) both;
for a child at any time.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-2
Persons ineligible for appointment
     Sec. 2. A court may not appoint a party to the proceedings, the party's employee, or the party's representative as the:
        (1) guardian ad litem;
        (2) court appointed special advocate;
        (3) guardian ad litem program; or
        (4) court appointed special advocate program;
for a child who is involved in the proceedings.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-3
Protection of best interests of the child
     Sec. 3. A guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate shall represent and protect the best interests of the child.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-4
Term of appointment
     Sec. 4. A guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate serves until the court enters an order for removal.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-5
Officers of the court
     Sec. 5. The guardian ad litem or the court appointed special advocate, or both, are considered officers of the court for the purpose of representing the child's interests.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-6
Representation by attorney
     Sec. 6. The guardian ad litem or the court appointed special advocate may be represented by an attorney. If necessary to protect the child's interests, the court may appoint an attorney to represent the guardian ad litem or the court appointed special advocate. As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-7
Subpoena powers; presentation of evidence
     Sec. 7. A guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate appointed by a court under this chapter (or IC 31-1-11.5-28 before its repeal) may subpoena witnesses and present evidence regarding:
        (1) the supervision of the action; or
        (2) any investigation and report that the court requires of the guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-8
Continuing supervision
     Sec. 8. The court may order a guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate appointed by a court under this chapter (or IC 31-1-11.5-28 before its repeal) to exercise continuing supervision over the child to assure that the custodial or parenting time terms of an order entered by the court under this article (or IC 31-1-11.5 before its repeal) are carried out as required by the court.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.68-2005, SEC.29.

IC 31-15-6-9
Civil immunity
     Sec. 9. Except for gross misconduct:
        (1) a guardian ad litem;
        (2) a court appointed special advocate;
        (3) an employee of a county guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate program; or
        (4) a volunteer for a guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate program;
who performs duties in good faith is immune from any civil liability that may occur as a result of that person's performance.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-10
User fee; order for payment
     Sec. 10. The court may order either or both parents of a child for whom a guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate is appointed under this chapter (or IC 31-1-11.5-28 before its repeal) to pay a user fee for the services provided under this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-11
User fee; collection procedures
     Sec. 11. The court shall establish one (1) of the following procedures to be used to collect the user fee:
        (1) The court may order the clerk of the court to collect the user fee and deposit the user fee into the county's guardian ad litem fund or court appointed special advocate fund. The fiscal body

of the county shall appropriate money collected as user fees under this chapter to the court having jurisdiction over custody actions for the court's use in providing guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate services, including the costs of representation.
        (2) The court may order either or both parents to pay the user fee to the:
            (A) guardian ad litem program that provided the services; or
            (B) court appointed special advocate program that provided the services.
        (3) The court may order either or both parents to pay the user fee to the individual or attorney guardian ad litem that provided the services.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-12
Funds
     Sec. 12. Money remaining in a county's:
        (1) guardian ad litem fund; or
        (2) court appointed special advocate fund;
at the end of the county's fiscal year does not revert to any other fund.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

IC 31-15-6-13
User fee; report of receipt of payment
     Sec. 13. If the court orders either or both parents to pay the user fee according to section 11(2) or 11(3) of this chapter, the program or the individual or attorney guardian ad litem shall report to the court the receipt of payment not later than thirty (30) days after receiving the payment.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.