|
The right to be represented by a lawyer in this court extends to:
Children involved in delinquency cases.
Children in need of services.
Abused and neglected children.
Any child who is the subject of a custody, visitation or support controversy.
Adults before the court of criminal charges.
Adults faced with loss of their parental rights.
All other persons whom the court feels require a lawyer's services.
The court appoints a guardian ad litem (a lawyer who protects the child's best interests) to represent all children alleged to be abandoned, neglected, abused or dependent who are the subject of an entrustment agreement (in which the parents give up their parental rights and transfer care and custody of the child to an agency), a court proceeding to terminate residual parental rights (for all rights and responsibility for the child), or whose parents desire to be relieved of care and custody of the child.
Adults and juveniles who can afford to do so must pay the costs of their own lawyer. Those who cannot afford a lawyer must complete a financial statement showing their indigence (lack of money) in order to receive a court-appointed lawyer. However, a lawyer will be appointed for adults only in criminal cases, abuse and neglect cases, and termination of residual parental rights cases. Parents or guardians of children or other adults receiving a court-appointed lawyer who, upon further investigation, are found able to pay will be charged the costs of the lawyer's services. Use of a lawyer is not required in all cases; the right to a lawyer may be waived by the accused except when the interests of the accused juvenile and his parents are in conflict.
Those who wish to hire their own lawyer, but who do not know a lawyer, may obtain the name and phone number of a local lawyer from the Virginia State Bar Referral Service by calling the following toll-free number: 1-800-552-7977.
Those who want to hire a lawyer and have not had time to do so should ask for a postponement for that purpose. When appearing before the judge, this matter should be brought up immediately before the hearing starts
.
Court personnel are not lawyers and are not permitted or allowed to offer legal advice. Legal questions should be addressed to competent attorneys only.
|
