Often in the messiest of child custody disputes, the judge will appoint an attorney to represent the interest of the kids. This person is known as a Guardian Ad Litem, or GAL. The GAL has the duty to interview the children as well as other people who have information about the children. The GAL then reports to the judge about his or her findings in the case as well as making recommendations on custody and visitation.
The Guardian Ad Litem’s recommendation usually carries a great deal of weight and the judge will often follow the GAL’s recommendations. It is often necessary to put your best foot forward for the GAL.
The judge generally requires the parents to split the fee for the GAL. The general cost of a private GAL is $ 1,000.00 to $ 2,000.00 for the initial fee deposit. Judge Walkley in Cleveland County is in the process of creating a program for providing GALs at reduced cost for custody disputes where the parents cannot afford the cost of a private-pay GAL.
I recently attended a thoughtful lecture on the role of the GAL in family law and juvenile deprived cases. It was presented by Catherine Petersen, a noted family law attorney. I am attaching her paper to this post for review.
Guardian Ad Litem?
Ever heard of one?
Often in the messiest of child custody disputes, the judge will appoint an attorney to represent the interest of the kids. This person is known as a Guardian Ad Litem, or GAL. The GAL has the duty to interview the children as well as other people who have information about the children. The GAL then reports to the judge about his or her findings in the case as well as making recommendations on custody and visitation.
The Guardian Ad Litem’s recommendation usually carries a great deal of weight and the judge will often follow the GAL’s recommendations. It is often necessary to put your best foot forward for the GAL.
The judge generally requires the parents to split the fee for the GAL. The general cost of a private GAL is $ 1,000.00 to $ 2,000.00 for the initial fee deposit. Judge Walkley in Cleveland County is in the process of creating a program for providing GALs at reduced cost for custody disputes where the parents cannot afford the cost of a private-pay GAL.
I recently attended a thoughtful lecture on the role of the GAL in family law and juvenile deprived cases. It was presented by Catherine Petersen, a noted family law attorney. I am attaching her paper to this post for review.
Guardian Ad Litem – The Child’s Attorney