As amended through October 28, 2024
A) Except as provided in Rule 24.01(B), the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to act in place of a parent, legal guardian or legal custodian to protect the best interests of the child when it appears, at any stage of the proceedings, that the child is without a parent, legal guardian or legal custodian. If the parent, legal guardian or legal custodian is unavailable, incompetent, indifferent to, hostile to, or has interests in conflict with the child's best interests, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed. (B) The court may determine not to appoint a guardian ad litem when: (1) counsel has been appointed or is otherwise retained for the child, and(2) the court finds that the best interests of the child are otherwise protected. (C) The court may appoint a guardian ad litem on its own motion or on the motion of the child's counsel or the prosecuting attorney when the court determines that an appointment is in the best interests of the child.