Statutes | Cherokee Code Chapter 7B Article 6 ยง 7B-602 | 2019
(a)
In cases where a petition alleges that a child is maltreated, the parent has the right to counsel unless that person waives the right.
(b)
In addition to the right to counsel set forth above, a guardian ad litem and attorney advocate shall be appointed to represent a parent who is under the age of 18 years and who is not married or otherwise emancipated. The appointment of a guardian ad litem and attorney advocate under this subsection shall not affect the minor parents entitlement to a guardian ad litem pursuant to C.C. section 7B-601 in the event that the minor parent is the subject of a separate child maltreatment petition.
(c)
On motion of any party or on the Courts own motion, the Court may appoint a guardian ad litem and attorney advocate for a parent who is incompetent in accordance with N.C.G.S. 1A-l, rule 17.
(d)
The parents counsel shall not be appointed to serve as the guardian ad litem and the guardian ad litem shall not act as the parents attorney. Communications between the guardian ad litem appointed under this section and the parent and between the guardian ad litem and the parents counsel shall be privileged and confidential to the same extent that communications between the parent and the parents counsel are privileged and confidential.
(Ord. No. 524 , 7-17-2015)