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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81468</law_id><section_number>16.1-343</section_number><catch_line>Involuntary commitment; duties of attorney for the minor</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-267</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Psychiatric Treatment of Minors Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As far in advance as practicable after an attorney is appointed to represent a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> under this article, the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s attorney shall interview the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>; the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">parent</span>, if available; the petitioner; and the <span class="dictionary">qualified evaluator</span>. He shall interview all other <span class="dictionary">material</span> witnesses, and examine all relevant diagnostic and other reports.
		Any state or local agency, <span class="dictionary">department</span>, authority or institution and any school, hospital, physician or other health or mental health care provider shall permit the attorney appointed pursuant to this article to inspect and copy, without the <span class="dictionary">consent</span> of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> or his <span class="dictionary">parents</span>, any records relating to the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> whom the attorney represents.
		The obligation of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s attorney during the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> or <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> is to interview witnesses, obtain independent experts when possible, cross-examine adverse witnesses, present witnesses on behalf of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, articulate the wishes of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, and otherwise fully represent the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> in the proceeding. <span class="dictionary">Counsel</span> appointed by <span class="dictionary">the court</span> shall be compensated in an amount not to exceed $100.</p></section></text><history>1990, c. 975; 1993, c. 344; 2004, cc. 66, 1014; 2008, c. 807; 2010, cc. 778, 825.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
