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Page 1 of 2 61.401 Appointment of guardian ad litem.
--In an action for dissolution of marriage or for the creation, approval, or modification of a parenting plan, if the court finds it is in the best interest of the child, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to act as next friend of the child, investigator or evaluator, not as attorney or advocate. The court in its discretion may also appoint legal counsel for a child to act as attorney or advocate; however, the guardian and the legal counsel shall not be the same person. In such actions which involve an allegation of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect as defined in s. 39.01, which allegation is verified and determined by the court to be well-founded, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the child. The guardian ad litem shall be a party to any judicial proceeding from the date of the appointment until the date of discharge.
History.--s. 1, ch. 90-226; s. 3, ch. 94-204; s. 123, ch. 98-403; s. 17, ch. 2008-61.
61.402 Qualifications of guardians ad litem.-
A guardian ad litem must be either a citizen certified by the Guardian Ad Litem Program to act in family law cases or an attorney who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar. Prior to certifying a guardian ad litem to be appointed under this chapter, the Guardian Ad Litem Program must conduct a security background investigation as provided in s. 39.821.
History.--s. 2, ch. 90-226; s. 1, ch. 93-203; s. 4, ch. 94-204; s. 1367, ch. 95-147; s. 3, ch. 96-109; s. 21, ch. 96-406; s. 124, ch. 98-403.
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