La. Ch. Code art. 607
This is the official text of La. Ch. Code art. 607, part of Louisiana’s Children's Code — governs child custody, child protection, and juvenile justice in Louisiana.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Child's right to appointed counsel; payment
Official statutory text
A. The court shall appoint the entity designated for the jurisdiction by the Louisiana Supreme Court to provide qualified, independent counsel for the child in any order issued in accordance with Article 619(C) or 620 or at the time the order setting the first court hearing is signed. Neither the child nor anyone purporting to act on behalf of the child may be permitted to waive this right.
B. The child shall be a party to the proceedings, and the attorney for the child shall have the authority to represent the child at all stages of the proceedings. The attorney for the child shall have the authority to take actions, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Accompany the child and be present for all court appearances, school hearings, and educational and other meetings related to the child.
(2) View and copy the child's medical, dental, psychological, psychiatric, educational, or counseling records.
C. If the court finds that the parents of the child are financially able, the court may order the parents to pay some or all of the costs of the child's representation in accordance with Articles 320 and 321.
D. In any dispositional or postdispositional hearing which may result in the mental health institutionalization of a child who is in the custody of the state, the child shall be entitled to representation by an attorney appointed by the Mental Health Advocacy Service, unless unavailable as determined by the director.
Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 705, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 2004, No. 301, §1, eff. June 18, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 321, §1; Acts 2006, No. 271, §1; Acts 2007, No. 307, §9; Acts 2014, No. 354, §1; Acts 2022, No. 272, §1.
B. The child shall be a party to the proceedings, and the attorney for the child shall have the authority to represent the child at all stages of the proceedings. The attorney for the child shall have the authority to take actions, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Accompany the child and be present for all court appearances, school hearings, and educational and other meetings related to the child.
(2) View and copy the child's medical, dental, psychological, psychiatric, educational, or counseling records.
C. If the court finds that the parents of the child are financially able, the court may order the parents to pay some or all of the costs of the child's representation in accordance with Articles 320 and 321.
D. In any dispositional or postdispositional hearing which may result in the mental health institutionalization of a child who is in the custody of the state, the child shall be entitled to representation by an attorney appointed by the Mental Health Advocacy Service, unless unavailable as determined by the director.
Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 705, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 2004, No. 301, §1, eff. June 18, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 321, §1; Acts 2006, No. 271, §1; Acts 2007, No. 307, §9; Acts 2014, No. 354, §1; Acts 2022, No. 272, §1.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a child custody matter in Louisiana?
See all Louisiana Child Custody lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.