{"data":{"id":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-453.025","jurisdiction":"us-mo","citation":"Mo. Rev. Stat. § 453.025","heading":"Appointment of guardian ad litem, when — fee — duties of guardian ad litem.","body":"1. The court shall, in all cases where the person sought to be adopted is under eighteen years of age, appoint a guardian ad litem, if not previously appointed pursuant to section 210.160, to represent the person sought to be adopted.\n2. When the parent is a minor or incompetent, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent such parent.\n3. The guardian ad litem may be awarded a reasonable fee for such services to be set by the court. The court, in its discretion, may award such fees as a judgment to be paid by any party to the proceedings or from public funds. Such an award of guardian fees shall constitute a final judgment in favor of the guardian ad litem. Such final judgment shall be enforceable against the parties in accordance with chapter 513.\n4. The guardian ad litem shall:\n(1) Be the legal advocate for the best interest of the party he is appointed to represent with the power and authority to cross-examine, subpoena witnesses, and offer testimony;\n(2) Initiate an appeal of any disposition that he determines to be adverse to the interests of the party he represents; and\n(3) Ascertain the child's wishes, feelings and attitudes regarding the adoption by interviewing persons with knowledge of the child, and if appropriate, to meet with the child.","path":["Title XXX - DOMESTIC RELATIONS","Chapter 453 - Adoption and Foster Care"],"source_url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=453.025","current_through":"2026 legislative session (floor)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T22:23:28Z","sha256":"f071b76a2a15c2d99d9dfa802ba80e24234d8dd371065d26597ba071dbbe2840","source_id":"us-mo","stale":false,"prev":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-453.020","next":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-453.026"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}