Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 453 - Adoption and Foster Care
Section 453.025 - Appointment of guardian ad litem, when — fee — duties of guardian ad litem.

Effective - 28 Aug 2004
453.025. Appointment of guardian ad litem, when — fee — duties of guardian ad litem. — 1. The court shall, in all cases where the person sought to be adopted is under eighteen years of age, appoint a guardian ad litem, if not previously appointed pursuant to section 210.160, to represent the person sought to be adopted.
2. When the parent is a minor or incompetent, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent such parent.
3. The guardian ad litem may be awarded a reasonable fee for such services to be set by the court. The court, in its discretion, may award such fees as a judgment to be paid by any party to the proceedings or from public funds. Such an award of guardian fees shall constitute a final judgment in favor of the guardian ad litem. Such final judgment shall be enforceable against the parties in accordance with chapter 513.
4. The guardian ad litem shall:
(1) Be the legal advocate for the best interest of the party he is appointed to represent with the power and authority to cross-examine, subpoena witnesses, and offer testimony;
(2) Initiate an appeal of any disposition that he determines to be adverse to the interests of the party he represents; and
(3) Ascertain the child's wishes, feelings and attitudes regarding the adoption by interviewing persons with knowledge of the child, and if appropriate, to meet with the child.
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(L. 1985 H.B. 366, et al., A.L. 1997 H.B. 343, A.L. 1998 S.B. 674, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453)

Structure Missouri Revised Statutes

Missouri Revised Statutes

Title XXX - Domestic Relations

Chapter 453 - Adoption and Foster Care

Section 453.005 - Construction of sections 453.010 to 453.400 — ethnic and racial diversity considerations.

Section 453.010 - Petition for permission to adopt, venue, jurisdiction — no denial or delay in placement of child based on residence or domicile — expedited placement, when.

Section 453.011 - Expediting termination of parental rights and contested adoption cases.

Section 453.012 - Requirements for adoption effective for petitions filed on or after August 28, 1997.

Section 453.014 - Who may place minor for adoption — rules and regulations, authority.

Section 453.015 - Definitions.

Section 453.020 - Petition — guardian ad litem appointed — fee, deposit in putative father registry fund.

Section 453.025 - Appointment of guardian ad litem, when — fee — duties of guardian ad litem.

Section 453.026 - Written report to be furnished to prospective adoptive parent, court and guardian ad litem, when.

Section 453.030 - Approval of court required — how obtained, consent of child and parent required, when — validity of consent — forms, developed by children's division, contents — court appointment of attorney, when.

Section 453.040 - Consent of parents not required, when.

Section 453.050 - Waiving of necessity of consent, when permitted — how executed.

Section 453.060 - Service on parties, how accomplished — petitioners' names not to appear on copy of petition served with summons, when — right of appeal — waiver of service — putative father unknown, procedure.

Section 453.061 - Conception of a child, man deemed to be on notice, when.

Section 453.065 - Definitions.

Section 453.070 - Investigations precondition for adoption — contents of investigation report — how conducted — assessments of adoptive parents, contents — waiving of investigation, when — fees — preference to foster parents, when.

Section 453.072 - Qualified relatives to receive subsidies, when — definitions.

Section 453.073 - Subsidy to adopted child — determination of — how paid — written agreement.

Section 453.074 - Duties of children's division in administration of subsidy.

Section 453.075 - Petitioner in adoption proceeding to give accounting, when — contents — consequences of impropriety.

Section 453.077 - Postplacement assessments required, when — rulemaking authority.

Section 453.080 - Hearing — decree — contact or exchange of identifying information between adopted person and birth or adoptive parent not to be denied, when — post adoption contact agreement — contact preference form.

Section 453.090 - Consequences of adoption — child defined.

Section 453.100 - Clerk to certify decree for vital statistics record — contents.

Section 453.101 - Guardian appointed when adoption not granted — powers and duties to be specified.

Section 453.102 - Division to inform adoptive parents of postplacement services, when — nature of services — family services to assist in cases of adoptive placement.

Section 453.110 - Prohibiting transfer of custody of child — exception — penalty — investigation and report — transfer of custody order issued, when.

Section 453.120 - Records of adoption proceedings not open to inspection except on order of the court — penalty for violation.

Section 453.121 - Adoption records, disclosure procedure — registry of biological parents and adopted adults — disclosure of papers, records and information.

Section 453.140 - Validity of decree not subject to attack for irregularities after expiration of one year.

Section 453.150 - Effect of adoptions made previous to July 1, 1917.

Section 453.153 - One church-one child program to find adoptive placements for certain children.

Section 453.160 - Validity of decree under any prior act not subject to attack for irregularities after expiration of one year — revocation of consent.

Section 453.170 - Adoption under laws of other states or countries, requirements, effect.

Section 453.315 - Order of protection, purpose of.

Section 453.350 - Higher education visit for certain foster children and youth in division of youth services program required — cost reimbursement, when.

Section 453.400 - Stepparent required to support stepchild — recovery from natural or adoptive parent, when — stepparent's income considered in aid to dependent children.

Section 453.500 - Interstate adoption assistance compact adopted — text of compact — false claims, penalty.

Section 453.503 - State may withdraw from compact, how.

Section 453.600 - Fund created, use of moneys.