What is a Guardian Ad Litem in an Illinois Family Law Case?

 Posted on October 21, 2020 in Family Law

If you are going through a divorce, child custody dispute, or another family law proceeding, you may be interested in learning about guardians ad litem (GALs). A GAL is a child representative who helps protect a child’s best interests during a legal proceeding. GALs are sometimes appointed to a case by a judge and they are sometimes requested by a parent who wants to ensure that his or her child’s best interests are being prioritized. A guardian ad litem can have considerable influence over the allocation of parental responsibilities and other family law concerns, so it is important to understand how the appointment of a GAL may impact your case.

GALs Are Child Advocates

A guardian ad litem is often appointed during child custody disputes and family law cases involving allegations of abuse. The GAL is specially trained in family law matters and is tasked with representing children’s best interests during legal disputes. If a GAL is appointed to your case, he or she will investigate the circumstances of the case and then make a formal recommendation to the court about the case’s outcome. During the investigation, the GAL may:

• Conduct an evaluation of each parent’s home
• Interview each parent about the relevant issues
• Speak with the child about his or her thoughts, feelings, and opinions
• Talk to siblings and other household members
• Interview teachers, social workers, friends, childcare workers, and other people who are involved in the child’s life
• Review the child’s school reports and medical records
• Review the parents’ criminal records, financial documents, police reports involving any previous domestic disputes, Child Protective Services records, and other relevant documents

Cooperating with the GAL is Important

If you are like most people, you value your privacy. It may make you uncomfortable to have someone looking around your home, researching your past, or asking you questions about accusations of domestic violence. In some cases, parents may even be asked to take a drug test or undergo a mental health evaluation. While this process can be awkward, fully cooperating with the GAL is the best way to make a good impression on him or her. Provide the GAL with the information and resources he or she requests and cooperate with any investigations and interviews. Do not feel like you need to “put on a show” for the GAL or pressure your child to act differently than he or she typically does.

Contact a DuPage County Child Custody Lawyer

If you are planning to divorce or have other family law-related needs, the skilled Naperville family law attorneys at the Pesce Law Group, P.C. can help. Attorney Don Pesce is qualified to serve as a guardian ad litem in family law cases and knows how to help clients prepare for GAL investigations. To schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss how we can help you, call our office today at 630-352-2240.

Source:

https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050K506.htm