A guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court to represent a minor during proceedings. For example, a minor whose family is going through a difficult divorce may have his or her own representative who looks out for his or her best interests.
The guardian ad litem can be anyone, but the courts generally appoint those who are close relatives of the children in question. It’s possible for an attorney to represent the child, too. The court does have the right to appoint anyone as the child’s guardian ad litem.
When is it a good idea for a child to have a guardian ad litem?
Consider this situation: Both the child’s mother and father are fighting for custody and arguing against one another’s ability to parent. The child in question is only a toddler, so he can’t represent himself or make a decision based on what would be good for him in the future. The guardian ad litem, his attorney or family member, steps in to speak on the minor’s behalf. The guardian ad litem has only one goal, and that is to protect the minor while making sure whatever happens is in his best interests.
If you are going through a divorce and want to make sure your child receives protection from an unbiased representative, your attorney can step in to fill that role. Your child deserves protection during contentious divorces, because in the end, it’s your child who matters most out of everyone involved. The right decisions now make an impact on his or her future.
