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232-71c
232.71C COURT ACTION FOLLOWING CHILD ABUSE ASSESSMENT
-- GUARDIAN AD LITEM.
1. If, upon completion of an assessment performed under section
232.71B, the department determines that the best interests of the
child require juvenile court action, the department shall act
appropriately to initiate the action. If at any time during the
assessment process the department believes court action is necessary
to safeguard a child, the department shall act appropriately to
initiate the action. The county attorney shall assist the department
as provided under section 232.90, subsection 2.
2. The department shall assist the juvenile court or district
court during all stages of court proceedings involving an alleged
child abuse case in accordance with the purposes of this chapter.
3. In every case involving child abuse which results in a child
protective judicial proceeding, whether or not the proceeding arises
under this chapter, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed by the
court to represent the child in the proceedings. Before a guardian
ad litem is appointed pursuant to this section, the court shall
require the person responsible for the care of the child to complete
under oath a detailed financial statement. If, on the basis of that
financial statement, the court determines that the person responsible
for the care of the child is able to bear the cost of the guardian ad
litem, the court shall so order. In cases where the person
responsible for the care of the child is unable to bear the cost of
the guardian ad litem, the expense shall be paid out of the county
treasury. Section History: Recent Form
97 Acts, ch 35, §7, 25
Referred to in §232.68, 331.424
