Guardian ad Litem

When a couple dissolves a marriage, sometimes it can be difficult to determine what is in the best interest of their children. In addition, there are times when adults with special needs may benefit from having an ally to determine their best interests. In these cases, the judicial system can rely on Guardian ad Litem to prepare recommendations when it comes to these interests.

Our Guardian ad Litem attorneys assist children and adult wards in the following ways:

• Conduct an investigation of the case as it pertains to what is in the best interest of the child(ren) or adult(s)
• Assist the Court in obtaining, when necessary, expert evaluations and recommendations
• Advocate to the Court for what is in the objective best interest of the minor child(ren) or adult(s)
• Submit a report to the Court with recommendations regarding custody, visitation arrangements, parental responsibility, financial, medical and educational needs involving the welfare of the child(ren)

Further, there are additional ways in which our Guardian ad Litem attorneys may also assist adults with special needs:

• Meeting with adults with disabilities and informing them of their rights
• Determining how the adult feels about the proposed guardianship
• Reviewing medical and health records for the adult
• Interviewing the proposed guardian(s) to determine suitability
• If necessary, consulting with other professionals regarding the adult's disabilities
• Submit a report to the Court with recommendations regarding whether a guardian is necessary - and who that should be - or if there are least restrictive alternatives available to the adult ward