L.D. v. Department of Children & Family Services

The mother, L.D., appeals a final judgment terminating her parental rights with respect to her child, C.L. We affirm.

At the start of the trial of the petition for termination of parental rights, the trial" court noticed that a guardian ad litem had not previously been appointed for the child. See §§ 39.807(2)(a), 39.822(1), Fla. Stat. (1999). Neither the mother nor the other parties had previously requested such an appointment or objected to the absence of a guardian ad litem.

Concerned that the statute made the appointment mandatory, the court directed that the guardian ad litem program…