(a) In cases where the juvenile petition alleges that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, the parent has the right to counsel and to appointed counsel in cases of indigency unless that person waives the right. When a petition is filed alleging that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, the clerk shall appoint provisional counsel for each parent named in the petition in accordance with rules adopted by the Office of Indigent Defense Services, shall indicate the appointment on the juvenile summons or attached notice, and shall provide a copy of the petition and summons or notice to the attorney. At the first hearing, the court shall dismiss the provisional counsel if the respondent parent:
(1) Does not appear at the hearing;
(2) Does not qualify for court-appointed counsel;
(3) Has retained counsel; or
(4) Waives the right to counsel.
The court shall confirm the appointment of counsel if subdivisions (1) through (4) of this subsection are not applicable to the respondent parent.
The court may reconsider a parent's eligibility and desire for appointed counsel at any stage of the proceeding.
(a1) A parent qualifying for appointed counsel may be permitted to proceed without the assistance of counsel only after the court examines the parent and makes findings of fact sufficient to show that the waiver is knowing and voluntary. The court's examination shall be reported as provided in G.S. 7B-806.
(b) In addition to the right to appointed counsel set forth above, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 1A-1, Rule 17, to represent a parent who is under the age of 16 years. On motion of any party or on the court's own motion, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for a parent who is 16 or 17 years old and who is not married or otherwise emancipated. The appointment of a guardian ad litem under this subsection shall not affect the minor parent's entitlement to a guardian ad litem pursuant to G.S. 7B-601 in the event that the minor parent is the subject of a separate juvenile petition.
(c) On motion of any party or on the court's own motion, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for a parent who is incompetent in accordance with G.S. 1A-1, Rule 17.
(d) The parent's counsel shall not be appointed to serve as the guardian ad litem and the guardian ad litem shall not act as the parent's attorney. Communications between the guardian ad litem appointed under this section and the parent and between the guardian ad litem and the parent's counsel shall be privileged and confidential to the same extent that communications between the parent and the parent's counsel are privileged and confidential.
(e) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-129, s. 17, effective October 1, 2013, and applicable to actions filed or pending on or after that date. (1979, c. 815, s. 1; 1981, c. 469, s. 14; 1998-202, s. 6; 1999-456, s. 60; 2000-144, s. 16; 2001-208, s. 2; 2001-487, s. 101; 2005-398, s. 2; 2011-326, s. 12(a); 2013-129, s. 17; 2021-100, s. 4; 2025-16, s. 1.9.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
92
cases (
21 in the last 5 years), 2004–2026 · leading case:
In re H. W., 594 S.E.2d 211 (N.C. Ct. App. 2004).
In re H. W., 594 S.E.2d 211 (N.C. Ct. App. 2004).
· cites it 26× “While the appointment of a guardian ad litem is clearly mandatory under G.S. § 7B-602(b) and thus, failure to appoint a guardian ad litem in any appropriate case is deemed prejudicial error per se, see In re Estes, 157 N.”
In re M.H.B., 664 S.E.2d 583 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008).
· cites it 34× “The governing statute in an adjudication of abuse, neglect, or dependency proceeding is N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602 (2007).”
In re O.C., 615 S.E.2d 391 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
· cites it 7× “Our legislature has adopted two separate juvenile GAL appointment provisions concerning the appointment of a GAL for a parent, one found in Article 6 of the Juvenile Code concerning petitions alleging the status of the child, G.S. § 7B-602(b), and a second, equally specific…”
In re A.S.Y., 208 N.C. App. 530 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).
· cites it 29× “N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 7B-602 and 7B-1101.1 (2009).”
In Re Asy, 703 S.E.2d 797 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).
· cites it 30× “N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 7B-602 and 7B-1101.1 (2009).”
In re J.S.L., 628 S.E.2d 387 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
· cites it 4× “Our legislature has adopted two separate juvenile GAL appointment provisions concerning the appointment of a GAL for a parent, one found in Article 6 of the Juvenile Code concerning petitions alleging the status of the child, G.S. § 7B-602(b), and a second, equally specific…”
In re J.M.W., 635 S.E.2d 916 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
· cites it 6× “Respondent-mother further assigns as error the trial court's failure to appoint her a guardian ad litem, arguing that her mental illness necessitated such action under North Carolina General Statutes §§ 7B-602 and 7B-1101 (2003).”
In re C.B., 614 S.E.2d 579 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
· cites it 14× “N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-602 (2003) provides in pertinent part as follows: (b) In addition to the right to appointed counsel .”
In re L.M.C., 613 S.E.2d 256 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
· cites it 10× “Next, the mother argues the trial court erroneously conducted a review hearing without appointing a guardian ad litem for her pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-602. 1 N.C. Gen.Stat.”
In Re: J.r., A.R., 791 S.E.2d 922 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016).
· cites it 12× “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(a) provides that "[i]n cases where the juvenile petition alleges that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, the parent has the right to counsel and to appointed counsel in cases of indigency unless that person waives the right.”
In the Matter of D.D.Y., 621 S.E.2d 15 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
· cites it 12× “§ 7B-602 requires the appointment of a guardian ad litem only in cases where (1) it is alleged that a juvenile is dependent; and (2) the juvenile's dependency is alleged to be caused by a parent or guardian being `incapable as the result of substance abuse, mental retardation,…”
In re A.L.G., 619 S.E.2d 561 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
· cites it 4× “to that of section 7B-602 as well. See In re C.B., ___ N.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(a) — 35 cases
In Re: J.r., A.R., 791 S.E.2d 922 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016).
“N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(a) provides that "[i]n cases where the juvenile petition alleges that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, the parent has the right to counsel and to appointed counsel in cases of indigency unless that person waives the right.”
In Re Kjd, 692 S.E.2d 437 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(a)(2009) — 2 cases
In Re Jmd, 708 S.E.2d 167 (N.C. Ct. App. 2011).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(a)(3) — 1 case
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(a1) — 7 cases
In Re: J.r., A.R., 791 S.E.2d 922 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016).
“N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(a) provides that "[i]n cases where the juvenile petition alleges that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, the parent has the right to counsel and to appointed counsel in cases of indigency unless that person waives the right.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(b) — 22 cases
In re O.C., 615 S.E.2d 391 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
“Our legislature has adopted two separate juvenile GAL appointment provisions concerning the appointment of a GAL for a parent, one found in Article 6 of the Juvenile Code concerning petitions alleging the status of the child, G.S. § 7B-602(b), and a second, equally specific…”
In re M.H.B., 664 S.E.2d 583 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008).
“The governing statute in an adjudication of abuse, neglect, or dependency proceeding is N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602 (2007).”
In re C.B., 614 S.E.2d 579 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
“N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-602 (2003) provides in pertinent part as follows: (b) In addition to the right to appointed counsel .”
In re J.S.L., 628 S.E.2d 387 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
“Our legislature has adopted two separate juvenile GAL appointment provisions concerning the appointment of a GAL for a parent, one found in Article 6 of the Juvenile Code concerning petitions alleging the status of the child, G.S. § 7B-602(b), and a second, equally specific…”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(b)(1) — 25 cases
In re O.C., 615 S.E.2d 391 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
“Our legislature has adopted two separate juvenile GAL appointment provisions concerning the appointment of a GAL for a parent, one found in Article 6 of the Juvenile Code concerning petitions alleging the status of the child, G.S. § 7B-602(b), and a second, equally specific…”
In re J.M.W., 635 S.E.2d 916 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
“Respondent-mother further assigns as error the trial court's failure to appoint her a guardian ad litem, arguing that her mental illness necessitated such action under North Carolina General Statutes §§ 7B-602 and 7B-1101 (2003).”
In re J.S.L., 628 S.E.2d 387 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
“Our legislature has adopted two separate juvenile GAL appointment provisions concerning the appointment of a GAL for a parent, one found in Article 6 of the Juvenile Code concerning petitions alleging the status of the child, G.S. § 7B-602(b), and a second, equally specific…”
In the Matter of D.D.Y., 621 S.E.2d 15 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
“§ 7B-602 requires the appointment of a guardian ad litem only in cases where (1) it is alleged that a juvenile is dependent; and (2) the juvenile's dependency is alleged to be caused by a parent or guardian being `incapable as the result of substance abuse, mental retardation,…”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(b)(1)(2003) — 3 cases
In Re Hw, 594 S.E.2d 211 (N.C. Ct. App. 2004).
In Re Jj, 637 S.E.2d 258 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(b)(l) — 3 cases
In re H. W., 594 S.E.2d 211 (N.C. Ct. App. 2004).
“While the appointment of a guardian ad litem is clearly mandatory under G.S. § 7B-602(b) and thus, failure to appoint a guardian ad litem in any appropriate case is deemed prejudicial error per se, see In re Estes, 157 N.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(c) — 13 cases
In re M.H.B., 664 S.E.2d 583 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008).
“The governing statute in an adjudication of abuse, neglect, or dependency proceeding is N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602 (2007).”
In re A.S.Y., 208 N.C. App. 530 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).
“N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 7B-602 and 7B-1101.1 (2009).”
In Re Asy, 703 S.E.2d 797 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).
“N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 7B-602 and 7B-1101.1 (2009).”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-602(e) — 3 cases
In re A.S.Y., 208 N.C. App. 530 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).
“N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 7B-602 and 7B-1101.1 (2009).”
In Re Asy, 703 S.E.2d 797 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).
“N.C. Gen.Stat. §§ 7B-602 and 7B-1101.1 (2009).”
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