Section 15-11-103. (Effective January 1, 2014) Right to attorney

   (a) A child and any other party to a proceeding under this article shall have the right to an attorney at all stages of the proceedings under this article.

(b) The court shall appoint an attorney for an alleged dependent child. The appointment shall be made as soon as practicable to ensure adequate representation of such child and, in any event, before the first court hearing that may substantially affect the interests of such child.

(c) A child's attorney owes to his or her client the duties imposed by the law of this state in an attorney-client relationship.

(d) If an attorney has been appointed to represent a child in a prior proceeding under this chapter, the court, when possible, shall appoint the same attorney to represent such child in any subsequent proceeding.

(e) An attorney appointed to represent a child in a dependency proceeding shall continue the representation in any subsequent appeals unless excused by the court.

(f) Neither a child nor a representative of a child may waive a child's right to an attorney in a dependency proceeding.

(g) A party other than a child shall be informed of his or her right to an attorney prior to any hearing. A party other than a child shall be given an opportunity to:

   (1) Obtain and employ an attorney of such party's own choice;

   (2) Obtain a court appointed attorney if the court determines that such party is an indigent person; or

   (3) Waive the right to an attorney.

Code 1981, § 15-11-103, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.