In Re the Interest of K.P.B.

GUNN, Judge.

In a juvenile neglect action filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court pursuant to § 211.031, RSMo 1978, the attorney for the natural mother of the minor children moved for an order of the trial court to tax his fees and expenses as costs against the county or state. The trial court denied the motion.

Appeal was taken to the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals, which affirmed the denial for the reason that no statutory authority exists obligating a sovereign to pay attorney fees in a juvenile neglect action. The case comes to this Court on its granting of an application…