Guardian ad litem; authorize to be paid a reasonable fee for services to a child.

HB 1443 would amend Mississippi law to authorize courts to pay guardians ad litem a reasonable fee for their services in child welfare cases, such as abuse, neglect, or termination of parental rights proceedings. Currently, the law does not explicitly permit payment for these appointed representatives, so this bill would create a funding mechanism for their work. It also clarifies that a guardian ad litem may serve in a dual role (with an attorney) only if no conflict of interest exists, and if a conflict arises, the court must appoint a separate attorney to represent the child’s preferences. This change directly affects children in juvenile court cases, the guardians ad litem appointed to represent them, and the courts managing these proceedings. The bill died in committee during the 2025 legislative session.