<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>354049</law_id><section_number>21-310</section_number><catch_line>Guardian ad litem for infants and incapacitated adults</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="58" identifier="21">Drainage, Soil Conservation, Sanitation and Public Facilities Districts</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="6" identifier="6">Drainage Projects</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>These proceedings shall not be stayed because of infancy or incapacity; but the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> was filed shall appoint some discreet and competent <span class="dictionary">attorney at law</span> as <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span> to any infant or incapacitated person who may own or be interested in any of the land affected by these proceedings, whether such persons have been served with process or not. If no such attorney is found willing to act, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall appoint some other discreet and proper person as <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span>, but the person so appointed shall not be liable to costs. Every <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span> shall faithfully represent the interest or estate of the infant or incapacitated person for whom he is appointed, and it shall be the duty of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to see that the estate of such <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is so represented and protected. Wherever the <span class="dictionary">court</span> is of <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> that the interests of any infant or incapacitated person require, it shall remove any <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span> and appoint another in his stead.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 1741; 1997, c. 801.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
