CT SB00494

Courts must provide parties with written notification of 15 eligible counsel or guardian ad litem candidates before appointment, considering factors such as financial circumstances, language barriers, transportation, disabilities, and geographic proximity; parties have two weeks to select a candidate or the court will appoint from the list.

Courts must issue a follow-up order within 21 days of appointment specifying the scope of work, end date, reporting deadlines, fee schedule with retainer and hourly rates, and sliding-scale provisions, with mandatory periodic court review at least every three months.

Counsel or guardians ad litem cannot charge fees for preparation of a required affidavit filed within 30 days after final judgment that documents case information, hourly fees charged, total hours billed, and expenses.

Courts may order parents or intervening parties to pay counsel or guardian ad litem fees based on financial ability, but cannot require payment from college savings accounts, credit cards if the party cannot afford them, or exempt property; the Judicial Branch must develop a sliding-scale fee calculation methodology.

Judicial Branch must develop a professional code of conduct for counsel and guardians ad litem, create public educational materials explaining their roles, and establish procedures for parties to file motions for removal of these appointees.