RULE 8.515. PROVIDING COUNSEL TO PARTIES

(a) Duty of the Court.

(1) At each hearing, the court shall advise
unrepresented parents of their right to have counsel present, unless
the parents have voluntarily executed a written surrender of the
child and consent to the entry of a court order terminating parental
rights.

(2) The court shall appoint counsel for indigent parents
as provided by law. The court may appoint counsel for other parties
as provided by law.

(3) The court shall ascertain whether the right to
counsel is understood. If the right to counsel is waived by any
parent the court shall ascertain if the right to counsel is knowingly
and intelligently waived.

(4) The court shall enter its findings with respect to the
appointment or waiver of counsel of indigent parents or the waiver
of the right to have counsel present.

(5) Once counsel has been retained or appointed to
represent a parent, the attorney shall continue to represent the
parent throughout the proceedings or until the court has approved
discontinuing the attorney-client relationship. If the attorney-client
relationship is discontinued, the court shall advise the parent of the
right to have new counsel retained or appointed for the remainder
of the proceedings.

(b) Waiver of Counsel.

(1) No waiver shall be accepted if it appears that the
parent is unable to make an intelligent and understanding choice
because of mental condition, age, education, experience, the nature
or complexity of the case, or other factors.
(2) A waiver of counsel shall be made in court and be of
record. The court shall question the parent in sufficient detail to
ascertain that the waiver is made knowingly and intelligently.

(3) If a waiver is accepted at any hearing, the offer of
assistance of counsel shall be renewed by the court at each
subsequent hearing at which the parent appears without counsel.