Rule 8.25 Appointment of guardian ad litem

When a minor is involved in a court case under this rule, a judge can appoint a guardian ad litem to look out for the minor's interests. This is someone who represents the minor's best interests during the case.

The judge must appoint a guardian ad litem in certain situations. This happens if the minor does not have a responsible adult with them, as defined by law. It also happens if the minor has not watched the required video under Iowa Code section 135L.2.

These rules exist to protect minors who may not have proper adult support or who haven't gotten important information they need. The guardian ad litem steps in to help make sure the minor's interests are represented fairly in court.