Divorces with children are often challenging and emotional for a family to reckon with. Parents may have conflicting plans for their children, pulling children in two different directions over issues of parenting time and decision-making responsibility.
In cases like these, the courts may decide to appoint a guardian ad litem, a special legal representative who is obligated to act in the child’s best interests. If you require the services of a compassionate advocate, the DuPage County, IL family law attorneys at Davi Law Group are certified GALs who can protect your children during an ongoing divorce.
What Does a Guardian Ad Litem Do?
The role of a GAL is to act as an unbiased third party who makes recommendations to the court based on the child’s best interests. This involves gathering information about the child’s home life by interviewing both parents and speaking with the child directly. One or both parents can hire a GAL to perform this duty, or a court may appoint one on the child’s behalf, in which case a judge will decide how the cost of a GAL’s services will be split between the parents. During this investigative process, a GAL will visit the homes of both parents, sometimes unannounced, to get the most complete picture of the child’s everyday life.