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Rule 14 Appearance of counsel.

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Rule Text

Counsel retained by a party in a juvenile-court case, including counsel acting as a guardian ad litem, shall file his or her initial pleading or notice of appearance with appropriate contact information in all juvenile-court proceedings with the clerk or by appearing personally at a juvenile-court hearing and advising the juvenile court that he or she is representing a party to the proceeding or acting as a guardian ad litem. Retained counsel who have filed a pleading or notice of appearance with the clerk or who have appeared at a juvenile-court hearing or appointed counsel, including guardians ad litem, shall receive copies of all notices, pleadings, motions, orders, and other documents required by statute or rule to be given to parties, and, in these cases, notices need not be given and pleadings, motions, orders, and other documents need not be made available to the parties unless the juvenile court shall so order. After counsel has been retained or appointed, including as guardian ad litem, he or she shall not withdraw from a case without the consent of the juvenile court.

[Amended 7-14-2011, eff. 10-1-2011; Amended 5-1-2014, eff. 7-1-2014; Amended 1-30-2020, eff. 4-1-2020.]

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

When a lawyer is hired to represent someone in a juvenile court case, that lawyer has to let the court know they're involved. They can do this by filing paperwork with the court clerk, or by showing up at a hearing and telling the judge they represent one of the parties. This same rule applies to lawyers who are appointed to act as a guardian ad litem, which is someone assigned to look out for a child's best interests in the case.

Once a lawyer has officially notified the court that they're on the case, they become the point of contact for that party. This means the court will send all notices, paperwork, and orders to the lawyer instead of directly to the person they represent. The only exception is if the judge specifically orders that the party should also get copies.

Finally, once a lawyer takes on a case, whether they were hired or appointed by the court, they can't just quit. They need to ask the judge for permission before they can withdraw from representing someone. This helps make sure a child or family doesn't suddenly lose their legal representation in the middle of a case.

Committee Notes

Comment to Amendment to Rule 14 Effective October 1, 2011

This rule was amended to clarify that counsel for a party in a juvenile court case shall file his or her pleading or notice of appearance with appropriate contact information in all juvenile court proceedings with the clerk of the circuit court or by appearing personally at the juvenile court hearing. The appropriate contact information in the pleading or notice of appearance shall specify the name of counsel and his or her business address and telephone number, his or her court identification number, and, if he or she chooses, his or her business facsimile number and business e-mail address. The pleading or notice of appearance shall also specify whom counsel is representing. Other changes to this rule were technical.

Comment to Amendment to Rule 14 Effective July 1, 2014

Rule 14 was amended to provide that once counsel has entered a notice of appearance with the clerk, counsel is entitled to receive copies of pleadings, motions, orders, and other documents filed in addition to notices and that the party counsel represents need not receive copies of those documents.

Comment to Amendment to Rule 14 Effective April 1, 2020

Rule 14 was amended to specify that only counsel, including counsel acting as a guardian ad litem, retained by a party in a juvenile-court case, has to file an initial pleading or notice of appearance or to appear personally at a juvenile-court hearing and to advise the juvenile court that he or she is representing a party or acting as guardian ad litem in order to receive copies of notices, pleadings, motions, orders, and other documents required by statute or rule to be given to the parties. Counsel, including a guardian ad litem, appointed by order of a juvenile court would not be required to file an initial pleading or notice of appearance or to appear personally at a juvenile-court hearing and to advise the juvenile court that he or she is representing a party in order to receive those copies. Additionally, the amendment provides that neither retained nor appointed counsel, including a guardian ad litem, can withdraw from a case without the consent of the juvenile court.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending effective October 1, 2011, Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 5, Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 9, Rule 12, Rule 13, Rule 14, Rule 15, Rule 15.1, Rule 17, Rule 18, Rule 20, Rule 23, Rule 24, Rule 25, Rule 26, Rule 28, and Rule 31 and adopting effective October 1, 2011, Rule 8.1 and the Comment to Amendment to Rule 1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 2 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 3 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 5 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 6 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 8 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Adoption of Rule 8.1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 9 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 12 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 13 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 14 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 15 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 15.1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 17 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 18 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 20 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 23 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 24 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 25 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 26 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 28 Effective October 1, 2011; and the Comment to Amendment to Rule 31 Effective October 1, 2011, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from 63 So. 3d.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 5, Rule 5.1, Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 8.1, Rule 12, Rule 13, Rule 14, Rule 15, Rule 18, Rule 20, Rule 24, Rule 26, Rule 28, and Rule 31 effective July 1, 2014, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from 135 So. 3d.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 1(B), Rule 14, and Rule 28 and adopting the Comments thereto, effective April 1, 2020, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from __ So. 3d.

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Last updated: September 2026

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