# KRS § 610.060: 610.060 Duty of court upon formal proceeding -- Right to attend proceeding -- Payment for counsel > Kentucky · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.060 ## Section - **Citation:** KRS § 610.060 - **Heading:** 610.060 Duty of court upon formal proceeding -- Right to attend proceeding -- Payment for counsel - **Jurisdiction:** Kentucky - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** KY Code / Title LI / Chapter 610 / Section 610.060 ## Text 610.060 Duty of court upon formal proceeding -- Right to attend proceeding -- Payment for counsel. (1) If the Circuit or District Court determines that a formal proceeding is required in the interest of the child or to determine the truth or falsity of the allegations against the child, a petition shall be required pursuant to KRS 610.020, and the court shall, when the child is brought before the court: (a) Explain to the child and his parents, guardian, or person exercising custodial control their respective rights to counsel and, if the child and his parents, guardian, or person exercising custodial control are unable to obtain counsel, shall appoint counsel for the child, as provided in subsection (2) of this section, and, unless specified to the contrary by other provisions of KRS Chapters 600 to 645, may appoint counsel for the parents, guardian, or person exercising custodial control; (b) Explain the right against self-incrimination by saying that the child, parents, relative, guardian, or custodian may remain silent concerning the charges against the child, and that anything said may be used against the child; (c) Unless limited by statute, explain the right to confront anyone who has accused the child and to cross-examine that person on the allegations made against the child; (d) Advise the child and his parents, guardian, or person exercising custodial control of the right to appeal from a determination of the court; and (e) Advise the child that these rights belong to him and may not be waived by his parents, guardian, or person exercising custodial control. (2) (a) No court shall accept a plea or admission or conduct an adjudication hearing involving a child accused of committing any felony offense, any offense under KRS Chapter 510, or any offense, including the violation of a valid court order, for which the court intends to impose detention or commitment as a disposition unless that child is represented by counsel. (b) For a child accused of committing any other offense, before a court permits the child to proceed beyond notification of the right to counsel required by paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this subsection without representation, the court shall: 1. Conduct a hearing about the child's waiver of counsel; and 2. Make specific findings of fact that the child knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived his right to counsel. (3) Unless otherwise exempted in KRS Chapters 600 to 645, a child and his parents or person exercising custodial control shall have a right to attend the hearing if such attendance will not unnecessarily delay the hearing. (4) Subject to the provisions of KRS 31.125, the court may order a parent to pay for counsel for the child if the court determines that the parent has the ability to pay for such counsel. The fact that a child is committed to a state agency shall not be cause for the court to order that agency to pay for counsel. (5) Subject to Rule 43.09 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, the court shall permit the victim, the victim's parents or legal guardian, or, if emancipated, the victim's spouse, or the legal representative of any of these, to attend all proceedings under this section. (6) An attempt shall be made to notify the persons specified in subsection (5) of this section of the time, date, and place of all proceedings under this section. Each District Court shall, by rule, establish the means of notification and the person or agency responsible for making the notifications. The failure of a victim or other person specified in subsection (5) of this section to receive notice shall not delay the proceedings in the case. ## Nearby sections - [KRS § 610.010 610.010 District Court jurisdiction of juvenile matters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.010.md) - [KRS § 610.012 610.012 Exclusive jurisdiction of District Court or family division of Circuit Court concerning temporary detention of suspected runaway](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.012.md) - [KRS § 610.015 610.015 Procedure when child tried as an adult -- Matters to be tried by Circuit Court -- Release of records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.015.md) - [KRS § 610.020 610.020 Complaints](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.020.md) - [KRS § 610.030 610.030 Preliminary intake inquiry procedures -- Resulting actions -- Formal conference -- Diversion agreement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.030.md) - [KRS § 610.040 610.040 Issuance of summons and notice of petition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.040.md) - [KRS § 610.050 610.050 Temporary change in custody](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.050.md) - [KRS § 610.060 610.060 Duty of court upon formal proceeding -- Right to attend proceeding -- Payment for counsel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.060.md) - [KRS § 610.070 610.070 Hearings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.070.md) - [KRS § 610.071 610.071 Requirement for certain persons to attend hearings -- Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.071.md) - [KRS § 610.072 610.072 Attendance of public at hearings in courts participating in pilot project authorized by KRS 21A.190](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.072.md) - [KRS § 610.080 610.080 Bifurcated hearings in juvenile proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.080.md) - [KRS § 610.090 610.090 Prohibitions on use of evidence in subsequent proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.090.md) - [KRS § 610.100 610.100 Investigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.100.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TLI_C610_S610.060. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.