K.S.A. » Chapter 23
Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 23-2219 (2026)

Counsel for parties; free transcript for indigent on appeal

✓ current as of May 2026
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23-2219. Counsel for parties; free transcript for indigent on appeal. (a) If the petitioner is not represented by counsel, the petitioner in an action to determine paternity may apply for services from: (1) The court trustee of the judicial district in which the action is brought, if the office of court trustee has been established in the county; or (2) the Kansas department for children and families or its contractor, if the action is brought pursuant to part D of title IV of the federal social security act (42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.), as amended. At the request of a petitioner in an action to determine paternity, the county or district attorney of the county in which the action is brought shall proceed on the petitioner's behalf if the petitioner is not represented by counsel, the action is not brought pursuant to part D of title IV of the federal social security act (42 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.), as amended, and there is no court trustee in the county.

(b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the minor child if the court finds that the interests of the child and the interests of the petitioner differ. In any other case, the court may appoint such a guardian ad litem.

(c) The court shall appoint counsel for any other party to the action who is financially unable to obtain counsel.

(d) If a party is financially unable to pay the costs of a transcript, the court shall furnish on request a transcript for purposes of appeal.

History: L. 1985, ch. 114, § 16; L. 1986, ch. 157, § 2; L. 1994, ch. 292, § 11; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 37; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2021–2024 · leading case: In re Parentage of E.A., 560 P.3d 1149 (Kan. 2024).
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In re Parentage of E.A., 560 P.3d 1149 (Kan. 2024). “After the appointment, the new judge may wish to consider a guardian ad litem appointment under K.S.A. 23-2219(b). Finally, we address the adoption panel's concerns "about the events surrounding the filing of the [adoption] petition" by grandmother and her husband that led it to…”
N.B. v. A.W., No. 123425 (Kan. Ct. App. Nov. 12, 2021). “" K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 23-2219(b). Once appointed, the GAL has a duty to "make an independent investigation of the facts upon which the petition is based and to appear for and represent the best interests of the child.”
K.S.A. § 23-2219(b): 2 cases
In re Parentage of E.A., 560 P.3d 1149 (Kan. 2024). “After the appointment, the new judge may wish to consider a guardian ad litem appointment under K.S.A. 23-2219(b). Finally, we address the adoption panel's concerns "about the events surrounding the filing of the [adoption] petition" by grandmother and her husband that led it to…”
N.B. v. A.W., No. 123425 (Kan. Ct. App. Nov. 12, 2021). “" K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 23-2219(b). Once appointed, the GAL has a duty to "make an independent investigation of the facts upon which the petition is based and to appear for and represent the best interests of the child.”
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