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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-307" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Guardianship to and Adoption Through Local Department">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Unless the public defender is required under § 16–204 of the Criminal Procedure Article to provide representation, in a case under Part II or Part III of this subtitle, a juvenile court shall appoint an attorney to represent a parent who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>has a disability that makes the parent incapable of effectively participating in the case; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>when a petition for guardianship or adoption is filed or consent to guardianship or adoption is given, is a minor.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>To determine whether a disability makes a parent incapable of effectively participating in a case, a juvenile court, on its own motion or motion of a party, may order examination of the parent.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, in a case under this subtitle, a juvenile court shall appoint an attorney to represent a child.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Unless a juvenile court finds that it is not in a child’s best interests, the juvenile court:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>if the attorney who currently represents the child in a pending CINA case or guardianship case is under contract with the Department to provide services under this subsection, shall appoint that attorney; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>if the attorney who currently represents the child is not under contract with the Department, shall strike the appearance of that attorney.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>An attorney or firm may represent more than one party in a case under this subtitle only if the Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct allow.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>An attorney appointed under this section may be compensated for reasonable fees, as approved by a juvenile court.</text>
  </level>
</section>
