41-3-607. Petition for termination -- separate hearing -- right to counsel -- no jury trial. (1) The termination of a parent-child legal relationship may be considered only after the filing of a petition pursuant to 41-3-401 alleging the factual grounds for termination pursuant to 41-3-609. If termination of a parent-child legal relationship is ordered, the court may transfer permanent legal custody of the child, with the right to consent to the child's adoption, to:
     (a) the department;
     (b) a licensed child-placing agency; or
     (c) another individual who has been approved by the department and has received consent for the transfer of custody from the department or agency that has custody of the child.
     (2) After a petition for termination of a parent-child relationship is filed, parents must be advised of the right to counsel, and counsel must be appointed in accordance with 41-3-401.
     (3) A guardian ad litem must be appointed to represent the child's best interests in any hearing determining the involuntary termination of the parent-child legal relationship. The guardian ad litem shall continue to represent the child until the child is returned home or placed in an appropriate permanent placement. If a respondent parent is a minor, a guardian ad litem must be appointed to serve the minor parent in addition to any counsel requested by the parent.
     (4) There is no right to a jury trial at proceedings held to consider the termination of a parent-child legal relationship.

     History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 420, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 388, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 458, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 516, L. 1997.