---
title: "List what child's counsel must do in this file"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/family-law/check-an-independent-children-s-lawyer-plan-against-the-meeting-requirem/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A16-CO20261022-5-US"
practice_area: "Family Law"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# List what child's counsel must do in this file

> Record whether counsel has been appointed for the child, the child's age if the file states it, and which duties in Family Code section 3151 the file shows have been done.…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/family-law/check-an-independent-children-s-lawyer-plan-against-the-meeting-requirem/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Family Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/family-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Record whether counsel has been appointed for the child, the child's age if the file states it, and which duties in Family Code section 3151 the file shows have been done. Do not decide that an interview is inappropriate. Write no report. |
| What the lawyer must review | Section 3151 says counsel appointed under that chapter represents the child's best interests. Counsel gathers evidence that bears on those interests and presents admissible evidence. If the child so desires, counsel presents the child's wishes. Unless under the circumstances it is inappropriate, the duties include interviewing the child, reviewing the court files and all accessible relevant records available to both parties, and making further investigations counsel considers necessary. The section states no age at which an interview is required. You decide whether interviewing is inappropriate. Counsel shall not be called as a witness. Subdivision (c)(1) gives reasonable access to the child. Sections 3177 and 3182 are named in the section and were not opened. The section was amended by Stats. 2010, ch. 352, effective 1 January 2011. Section 3011 is the court's best-interest list. It is not the job description of counsel. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Check an independent children's lawyer plan against the meeting requirement](https://ailawframework.com/practice/family-law/check-an-independent-children-s-lawyer-plan-against-the-meeting-requirem.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Record whether counsel has been appointed for the child, the child's age if the file states it, and which duties in Family Code section 3151 the file shows have been done. Do not decide that an interview is inappropriate. Write no report.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- Child's counsel under this chapter is a California appointment. Another state uses a different statute.
- The tool records age only when the file states it.

## Sources

- [California Family Code § 3151 (duties of child's counsel)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM&sectionNum=3151) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [California Family Code § 3011 (best interests of the child)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM&sectionNum=3011) (checked 2026-10-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*