| "body"> | | | | may not have their best interests at heart. |
| Guardian ad litems are most often responsible for | | | | In criminal proceedings involving charges of neglect or |
| minors or incapacitated adults. These wards are | | | | abuse, a Guardian ad Litem is most often given the |
| assigned by courts for the purpose of having their | | | | responsibility of making observations on the family and |
| special needs and rights conserved by a fiduciary | | | | home life surrounding their ward, as well as |
| party who is held to the very highest standard of care. | | | | interviewing any involved parties or any parties to |
| As a fiduciary party to court proceedings, GALs hold in | | | | whom information may have been entrusted. Like a |
| trust the best interests of the infants, children and | | | | social worker, the GAL would then make a full report |
| disabled adults they represent. A GAL may be | | | | to the court as to authenticity and gravity of the |
| assigned to one specific proceeding or to monitor the | | | | violations. |
| ongoing care of their ward. | | | | Requirements differ by jurisdiction over who can |
| The types of court proceedings that most often | | | | become a Guardian ad Litem. Some jurisdictions |
| involve a GAL are divorce and paternity suits, estate | | | | require specific legal or social work training, but many |
| probation hearings, and criminal cases involving | | | | areas accept responsible adult volunteers from |
| allegations of neglect and abuse. In civil proceedings, | | | | diverse professional backgrounds. All states require a |
| the adults legally responsible for the minor or | | | | criminal background check of applicants to their |
| incapacitated individual are often responsible for any | | | | Guardian ad Litem program, and some require a |
| costs associated with the work completed by the | | | | specific number and type of continuing education |
| GAL. Although the GAL may work as a volunteer or | | | | courses, specifically designed to keep volunteer and |
| may have their salary paid by a social services or | | | | professional GALs alike abreast of current legal |
| non-profit agency, there are often costs associated | | | | standards and concerns in the care of children and |
| with the work they perform. | | | | incapacitated adults. In order to satisfy the huge needs |
| So what tasks does a Guardian ad Litem perform | | | | most states have for Guardian ad Litems, a person |
| during the course of a normal court proceeding? In | | | | volunteering in this role is often asked to devote a |
| some circumstances, their duties may be very similar | | | | certain number of hours per week to this vocation, as |
| to that of a social worker. For example, in divorce | | | | well as agree to act in that capacity for a certain |
| proceedings, a GAL will often take time to interview | | | | length of time. Guardian ad Litems that are employed |
| both parties to the divorce as well as all affected | | | | by non-profit or social service agencies often balance |
| children and any other involved or affected party. | | | | very heavy workloads. |
| Based upon these interviews, as well as the results of | | | | A challenging and sometimes heart-wrenching |
| any family or home investigations, GALs will make a | | | | vocation, Guardian ad Litems are an absolutely integral |
| recommendation to the court as to custody and | | | | part of civil and criminal legal proceedings. To become |
| visitation. A secondary consideration in divorce | | | | a valued volunteer, contact your local social services |
| proceedings is to shield any minor children from the | | | | agency or any non-profit organization devote to |
| traumatic experience of appearing as a witness in a | | | | protecting the needs of children today. |
| court proceeding or being questioned by parties who | | | | |