27-20.1-09. Right to counsel

27-20.1-09. Right to counsel 1. If, at any time in the proceeding, the court determines the interests of the child are or may be inadequately represented and the child is of sufficient age and competency to assist counsel, the court may appoint an attorney to represent the child. The court shall make appropriate findings to support the appointment of counsel. 2. At a proceeding commenced under this chapter, a parent who is indigent and unable to employ legal counsel is entitled to counsel at public expense. If a parent appears without counsel the court shall ascertain whether the parent knows the parent may be represented by counsel and that the parent is entitled to counsel at public expense if indigent. The court may continue the proceeding to enable the parent to obtain counsel and, subject to this section, counsel must be provided for an unrepresented indigent parent upon the parent's request and the court's determination that the parent is indigent. 3. An indigent parent is one who meets the definition of indigent under the guidelines adopted by the commission on legal counsel for indigents.