When the Missouri family support division hires a lawyer to go after child support, that lawyer works for the state only — not for the parent who applied for help. Even if the case uses that parent's name, no lawyer-client relationship exists between them. If the parent is part of the case but does not have their own lawyer, the state's attorney tries to let them know about the court proceedings when possible.
454.513. Attorney representation — not to exist, when — notice to not represented by attorney, when. — 1. Any attorney initiating any legal s at the request of the Missouri shall represent the state of Missouri, of social services, family support division exclusively. An attorney/client relationship shall not exist between the attorney and any or of for and on behalf of a child or children, without regard to the name in which legal proceedings are initiated. The of this section shall apply to a , , attorney employed by the state or attorney under contract with the family support division.
2. An attorney representing the in a proceeding in which a may be established or shall, whenever possible, notify an applicant or recipient of child support enforcement services of such proceedings if such applicant or recipient is a party to such a proceeding but is not represented by an attorney.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1993 S.B. 253 § 1, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1299 Revision)
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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.