14-2-318. Costs of proceedings; appointment of counsel.

(a) The court may appoint counsel for any party who is indigent. Indigency shall be established by written affidavit signed and sworn to by the party or sworn testimony made a part of the record of the proceedings. The affidavit or sworn testimony shall state that the party is without sufficient money, property, assets or credit to employ counsel in his own behalf. The court may require further verification of financial condition as it deems necessary.

(b) Where petitioner is an authorized agency as defined by W.S. 14-2-308(a)(ii)(B), it shall pay for the costs of the action. Costs shall include:

(i) Fee for the guardian ad litem. If the agency had entered into an agreement with the guardian ad litem program pursuant to W.S. 14-12-101 through 14-12-104 and the program was appointed to provide the guardian ad litem, the program shall pay the fee for the guardian ad litem in accordance with that agreement;

(ii) Attorney's fee for an indigent party;

(iii) Other professional fees incurred by an indigent party in defense of an action brought under this act.

(c) Prior to incurring any cost under subsection (b) of this section application shall be made to the court and written approval by the court shall be obtained.

(d) Where petitioner is an authorized agency as defined by W.S. 14-2-308(a)(ii)(A):

(i) The district attorney for the county in which the petition is filed shall represent the authorized agency in all proceedings under this act;

(ii) The authorized agency shall pay the reasonable attorney's fees and expenses for an indigent party incurred in the defense of an action brought under this act and approved by the court; and

(iii) The authorized agency shall pay the guardian ad litem reasonable fees and expenses approved by the court unless the agency had entered into an agreement with the guardian ad litem program pursuant to W.S. 14-12-101 through 14-12-104 and the program was appointed to provide the guardian ad litem. If so, the program shall pay the fee for the guardian ad litem in accordance with that agreement.