CHAPTER 5. RIGHT TO COUNSEL

Art. 1016. Right to counsel

            A. The child and the identified parent shall each have the right to be represented by separate counsel in a termination proceeding brought in accordance with this Title. Neither the child nor anyone purporting to act on behalf of the child may be permitted to waive the child's right to counsel.

            B. The court shall appoint the entity designated for the jurisdiction by the Louisiana Supreme Court to provide qualified, independent counsel for the child in such a proceeding.

            C. If the court determines that the parent is indigent and unable to employ counsel solely for that reason, the court shall refer the parent for representation by the Indigent Parents' Representation Program.

            Acts 1991, No. 235, §10, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2004, No. 301, §1, eff. June 18, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 321, §1; Acts 2006, No. 271, §1; Acts 2014, No. 354, §1; Acts 2017, No. 239, §1; Acts 2022, No. 272, §1.