(1) The court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor whenever it finds that there may be a conflict of interest between the minor and the minor’s parent, guardian or legal custodian or that it is otherwise in the minor’s interest to do so.
     (2) Unless the guardian ad litem is an attorney, the guardian ad litem shall be represented by counsel.

division assigned to hear proceedings under this Act, and includes the term Juvenile Court. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 405/5-105 Department: means the Department of Human

Services unless specifically referenced as another department. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 405/5-105 Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs. Minor: means a person under the age of 21 years      subject to this Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 405/5-105 Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.      (3) The reasonable fees of a guardian ad litem appointed under this Section shall be fixed by the court and charged to the parents of the minor, to the extent they are able to pay. If the parents are unable to pay those fees, they shall be paid from the general fund of the county.      (4) If, during the court proceedings, the parents, guardian, or legal custodian prove that the minor has an actual conflict of interest with the minor in that delinquency proceeding and that the parents, guardian, or legal custodian are indigent, the court shall appoint a separate attorney for that parent, guardian, or legal custodian.      (5) A guardian ad litem appointed under this Section for a minor who is in the custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services or who has an open intact family services case with the Department of Children and Family Services is entitled to receive copies of any and all classified reports of child abuse or neglect made pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act in which the minor, who is the subject of the report under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, is also a minor for whom the guardian ad litem is appointed under this Act. The Department of Children and Family Services’ obligation under this subsection to provide reports to a guardian ad litem for a minor with an open intact family services case applies only if the guardian ad litem notified the Department in writing of the representation.   Previous section Next section    Part 6 Contents