Vermont Statutes Title 15 A. Adoption Act, § 3-201. Appointment of attorney or guardian ad litem

(a) In a proceeding under this title which may result in the termination of a relationship of parent and child, the court shall appoint an attorney for any person who is indigent, a minor, or incompetent who appears in the proceeding and whose parental relationship to a child may be terminated, unless the court finds that the minor or person who is incompetent has sufficient financial means to hire an attorney, or the person who is indigent declines to be represented by an attorney.

(b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor adoptee in a contested proceeding under this title and may appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor adoptee in an uncontested proceeding.