House Bill 86 establishes a right to counsel for indigent parents in DSCYF custody proceedings. The bill provides that parental representation will primarily be provided by a legal services entity contracted with by the Family Court, but may also be provided by the Office of Defense Services or a private attorney appointed by the Court.
Custody matters are serious legal proceedings, much like landlord-tenant actions, and parents, no matter which side, should not go into them as pro-se, or unrepresented, parties. The stakes are too important and there are many legal obstacles and hurdles that parties have to be aware of.
The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee.
| House Bill 86 – Right to Counel for Indigent parents in Juvenile cases | Currrent Status – House Judiciary 3/17/23 |
| House Sponsors – Griffith, Baumbach, Chukwuocha, Johnson, Morrison, Wilson-Anton | Senate Sponsors – Gay, Hoffner, Sokola |
| House Yes Votes – | Senate Yes Votes – |
| House No Votes – | Senate No Votes – |
| House Absents or Not Voting – | Senate Absent or Not Voting – |
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