Counsel for parties; free transcript for indigent on appeal

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. Source or Prior Law: 38-1125. Law Review and Bar Journal References: "Challenging the Presumption of Paternity," Sheila Reynolds, 65 J.K.B.A. No. 10, 36 (1996). CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Duties of guardian ad litem stated and applied. In re Marriage of Ross, 245 Kan. 591, 595, 783 P.2d 331 (1989). 2. Error to proceed in determination of parentage where child is not represented or even present in person; if child becomes an adult, such person must be a party and represented by counsel. Ferguson v. Winston, 27 Kan. App. 2d 34, 996 P.2d 841 (2000). Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026