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HB1836 • 2026

Requires that a guardian ad litem who is appointed to a child to have mandatory conversations with the child

Requires that a guardian ad litem who is appointed to a child to have mandatory conversations with the child

Children Parental Rights
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Kelley, Ann (127)
Last action
2026-05-15
Official status
05/15/2026 - Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
Effective date
2026-08-28

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Guardian Ad Litem Conversations with Children

This law requires that a guardian ad litem must talk to the child they represent before each court hearing.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires guardians ad litem to have conversations with children before every court proceeding.
  • Specifies that these conversations must take place in private rooms.
  • Sets a minimum time of fifteen minutes for each conversation.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Children who are involved in legal proceedings and have a guardian ad litem appointed to them.

Terms To Know

Guardian Ad Litem
A person appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child in legal matters.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-15 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

  2. 2026-01-08 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read Second Time (H)

  3. 2026-01-07 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read First Time (H)

  4. 2025-12-01 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Prefiled (H)

Official Summary Text

Requires that a guardian ad litem who is appointed to a child to have mandatory conversations with the child

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1836
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE KELLEY .
4022H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o amend chapters 210, 21 1, 452, and 453, RSMo, by adding thereto four new sections
relating to guardians ad litem, with a penalty provision.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapters 210, 21 1, 452, and 453, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto
2 four new sections, to be known as sections 210.162, 21 1.465, 452.427, and 453.027, to read
3 as follows:
210.162. A guardian ad litem appointed to a child who is the subject to a
2 pr oceeding under sections 210.1 10 to 210.165 or sections 210.700 to 210.760 shall be
3 r equir ed to have a conversation with such child prior to each court pr oceeding. Such
4 conversations shall be held in a private r oom and shall not be shorter than fifteen
5 minutes.
21 1.465. A guardian ad litem appointed to a child who is the subject to a
2 pr oceeding under sections 21 1.442 to 21 1.487 shall be requ ired to have a conversation
3 with such child prior to each court pr oceeding. Such conversations shall be held in a
4 private r oom and shall not be shorter than fifteen minutes.
452.427. A guardian ad litem appointed to a child who is the subject to a
2 pr oceeding to determine custody , visitation rights, or support under sections 452.375 to
3 452.410 shall be requ ired to have a conversation with such child prior to each court
4 pr oceeding. Such conversations shall be held in a private roo m and shall not be shorter
5 than fifteen minutes.
453.027. A guardian ad litem appointed to a child who is the subject to a
2 pr oceeding under sections 453.005 to 453.170 shall be requi red to have a conversation
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
3 with such child prior to each court pr oceeding. Such conversations shall be held in a
4 private r oom and shall not be shorter than fifteen minutes.
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HB 1836 2