Appointing a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) for your Divorce Case in Connecticut
Posted By Irene C. Olszewski, Esq. on May 4, 2010
When going through a divorce in Connecticut, couples have to reach agreements on issues such as the division of marital assets (including bank accounts, real estate and personal property). If you are in the process of going through a divorce and you have children, you will also have to consider child support, custody and visitation issues. In many such cases, a judge will appoint a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) to represent the best interests of the minor children. The GAL may be an attorney or other qualified professional. If the GAL is an attorney, he or she does not represent you or your children and will not provide legal advice.
The GAL’s job is to investigate the family’s circumstances and dynamics and to make recommendations to the court as to what parenting plan (custody and visitation, among other issues) will serve your children’s best interests. A GAL may investigate claims of abuse or neglect by a parent, issues between siblings, substance abuse by a parent, and numerous other issues.
It is important that you cooperate fully with a GAL in order that he or she can truly assess what will be in your children’s best interests at a time when you and your spouse may not be objective due to the stress (and grief) associated with the divorce.
Disclaimer: The information, comments and links posted on the blog do not constitute legal advice. I will not respond to any specific legal questions in the comments section of this blog. Read my entire disclaimer.
copyright 2010 Irene C. Olszewski
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10 Responses to “Appointing a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) for your Divorce Case in Connecticut”
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My divorce went on (and on and on) for almost 2 years. I can honestly say that the only person who ever seemed to understand what was going on was the GAL. She was an attorney who obviously had a lot of experience in these types of matters. As much as I balked when the judge first appointed her (and told us we’d have to pay for yet another lawyer to work on our case), I don’t think we would ever have resolved this without her.
Poppy,
It’s not uncommon for parties to a divorce to balk at the idea of a GAL (or having to pay for one). In my experience, though, GALs can really help to move things in the right direction. I’m glad you had such a positive experience with the GAL appointed for your case.
Thank you for a great post
We used a gal in our divorce also. Ours was a psychologist. He was pretty fair most of the time but I didn’t agree with everything he said to the judge. In the end, it was okay though. We did not have an easy divorce.
Never get a gal, go through family relations. If you really care about children, don’t.
GALs have no oversight whatsoever.
Susan,
Thanks for sharing your views. I can’t completely agree that GALs don’t have oversight. I’ve worked with some great GALs and some not-so-great GALs. I’ve also worked with Family Relations. I once had a case that used BOTH the GAL and Family Relations. Each of those resources can be useful and important when children are involved in a divorce. If you do have a GAL and don’t feel that he or she is performing the job properly, you should absolutely bring it to the court’s attention.
In Connecticut, all GALs are required to undergo special training. That was recently implemented. I’m hoping that will make the GAL system a more solid one for families to work with.
Thanks for reading, Susan. Your comments were most appreciated.
Then kindly tell me who oversees family court gals?
If one say whose close family worked with one of parents in divorce for seven years and who was appointed by a judge who was represented in divorce by the attorney who also represents the same parent who worked with gal’s family.
How does one get rid of gal?
Also is a GAL still GAL after proceeding concluded without agreement or appointment?
Anyone who’s abused by their spouse and the spouse abused children will lose children post judgement to the abuser will lose custody 90 percent of the time Connecticut.
It’s been my experience courts only enforce orders for those who can get them in front of a judge.
What is happening to abused women and children in this state falls under the federal definition of human trafficking.
But if anyone cared, laws would provide penalties harsher for hurting children than harming puppies. Extreme statement, but true.
Connecticut is notoriously known as one of the worst family court systems in the country, but we are so elitist here and attorneys make laws to protect themselves it’s unchecked.
No oversight to family court Guardian ad Litems.
Most aren’t even qualified.
Stick with family relations and stay away from gal. It only works our if it’s in your clients’ best interests, hardly anyone who is abusive has his or her best interest with children.
Oh- guess who does GAL trainings? Who is in charge of them? Too many abusers who traffick children to the highest bidder. Look ultimately where funding comes from.
Who oversees GAL’s in family court? No one.
Look at money trail for GAL training.
Susan,
It’s clear you had a horrible experience with a GAL and for that, I am truly sorry.
Let’s hear from some other readers on this topic. Did you have a good experience or a bad experience with a GAL in your divorce?
When is the GAL out of the picture? 15 years? definition says appointed for legal proceeding, but its over and the GAL is still around collecting and harassing. When does the appointment end?