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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62045</law_id><section_number>64.2-2006</section_number><catch_line>Counsel for respondent</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>64.2-2003</reference><reference>64.2-2004</reference><reference>64.2-2009</reference><reference>64.2-2012</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Fiduciaries and Guardians</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="D">Guardianship of Incapacitated Persons</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="20">Guardianship and Conservatorship</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="1">Appointment</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> has the right to be represented by <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s choice. If the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> is not represented by <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may appoint legal <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> upon the filing of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or at any time prior to the entry of the <span class="dictionary">order</span> upon request of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> or the <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span>, if the <span class="dictionary">court</span> determines that <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> is needed to protect the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s interest. <span class="dictionary">Counsel</span> appointed by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall be paid a fee that is fixed by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to be taxed as part of the costs of the proceeding.
		A health care provider shall disclose or make available to the attorney, upon request, any information, records, and reports concerning the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> that the attorney determines necessary to perform his duties under this section, including a copy of the evaluation report required under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Evaluation report; filed in separate confidential addendum" href="/64.2-2005/">64.2-2005</a>.</p></section></text><history>1997, c. 921, &#xA7; 37.1-134.12; 2004, cc. 66, 1014; 2005, c. 716, &#xA7; 37.2-1006; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
