Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)

When parents and caregivers have disputes over the custody and care of their children, the Superior Court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem to advocate for the best interests of the children involved in the custody case.

When the family involved cannot afford a Guardian ad Litem, the Court will appoint a pro bono Guardian who is trained and supported by AVLF to step in and conduct an investigation, ultimately making a recommendation as to the best interests of the children.

Guardians ad Litem are appointed at the request of a Judge. AVLF does not assign Guardians directly or accept referrals from the public.

AVLF recruits lawyers to serve as Guardians at no cost to the parties. We train volunteer attorneys to identify and advocate for the best interests of the children, with guidance and supervision from our team throughout their investigation and recommendations to the Court.

Often, the recommendation made by a GAL, and sometimes the active involvement of the GAL in negotiations between parties, encourages resolution well before the matter has to go to trial. Even if it does not, and the matter has to go to trial, the partnership between the Court and AVLF promotes a prompt, effective, and efficient outcome for the Court and for the parents, and, most importantly, gives a much-needed resolution to children torn between two homes.