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Kentucky Revised Statutes Title LI. Unified Juvenile Code § 620.100.Appointment of separate counsel; court-appointed special advocate volunteer; full adjudicatory hearing; notice of proceedings; separate counsel to advise cabinet employee

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(1) If the court determines, as a result of a temporary removal hearing, that further proceedings are required, the court shall advise the child and his parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision of their right to appointment of separate counsel:

(a) The court shall appoint counsel for the child to be paid for by the Finance and Administration Cabinet. Counsel shall document participation in training on the role of counsel that includes training in early childhood, child, and adolescent development. The clerk of the court shall arrange for service on all parties, including the local representative of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, of the order appointing counsel. The fee to be fixed by the court shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500); however, if the action has final disposition in the District Court, the fee shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250);

(b) The court shall appoint separate counsel for the parent who exercises custodial control or supervision if the parent is unable to afford counsel pursuant to KRS Chapter 31. The clerk of the court shall arrange for service on all parties, including the local representative of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, of the order appointing counsel. The parent's counsel shall be provided or paid for by the Finance and Administration Cabinet. The fee to be fixed by the court shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500); however, if the action has final disposition in the District Court, the fee shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250);

(c) The court shall appoint separate counsel for a person claiming to be a de facto custodian, as defined in KRS 403.270, if the person is unable to afford counsel pursuant to KRS Chapter 31. The clerk of the court shall arrange for service on all parties, including the local representative of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, of the order appointing counsel. The person's counsel shall be provided or paid for by the Finance and Administration Cabinet. The fee to be fixed by the court shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500); however, if the action has final disposition in the District Court, the fee shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250);

(d) The court may, in the interest of justice, appoint separate counsel for a nonparent who exercises custodial control or supervision of the child, if the person is unable to afford counsel, pursuant to KRS Chapter 31. The clerk of the court shall arrange for service on all parties, including the local representative of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, of the order appointing counsel. Counsel for the person shall be provided or paid for by the Finance and Administration Cabinet. The fee to be fixed by the court shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500); however, if the action has final disposition in the District Court, the fee shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250); and

(e) The court may, in the interest of justice, appoint a court-appointed special advocate volunteer to represent the best interests of the child pursuant to KRS 620.500 to 620.550. The clerk of the court shall arrange for service on all parties, including the local representative of the cabinet, of the order appointing the court-appointed special advocate volunteer.

(2) If the court determines that further proceedings are required, the court also shall advise the child and his parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision that they have a right to not incriminate themselves, and a right to a full adjudicatory hearing at which they may confront and cross-examine all adverse witnesses, present evidence on their own behalf and to an appeal.

(3) The adjudication shall determine the truth or falsity of the allegations in the complaint. The burden of proof shall be upon the complainant, and a determination of dependency, neglect, and abuse shall be made by a preponderance of the evidence. The Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply.

(4) The disposition shall determine the action to be taken by the court on behalf of the child and his parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision.

(5) Foster parents, preadoptive parents, or relatives providing care for the child shall receive notice of, and shall have a right to be heard in, any proceeding held with respect to the child. This subsection shall not be construed to require that a foster parent, preadoptive parent, or relative caring for the child be made a party to a proceeding solely on the basis of the notice and right to be heard.

(6) If the court determines that further proceedings are required, the court shall, in the interest of justice, have the ability to request that separate counsel is available to advise a cabinet employee in court anytime that the cabinet employee is required to be in court.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Kentucky Revised Statutes Title LI. Unified Juvenile Code § 620.100.Appointment of separate counsel; court-appointed special advocate volunteer; full adjudicatory hearing; notice of proceedings; separate counsel to advise cabinet employee - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ky/title-li-unified-juvenile-code/ky-rev-st-sect-620-100/

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