Guardian ad Litem in Georgia
What is a Guardian ad Litem?
A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) may be appointed by the family court to serve as an advocate for children in highly unstable or threatening circumstances. The role and responsibilities of a Guardian ad Litem are defined by the court. As an advocate for the child(ren), the GAL seeks to identify solutions that serve the best interests of the child(ren).
What Does a Guardian ad Litem Do?
A GAL serves the court as an investigator. The appointed GAL investigates all aspects of a case, prepares, and submits a formal report, and offers recommendations to the court concerning necessary actions to protect a child.
Juvenile Court Dependency Proceedings
In a juvenile court dependency proceeding, a minor child has the legal right to be represented by an attorney at all stages of the proceeding, and the court shall appoint an attorney for the alleged dependent child.
In addition to the child's attorney, federal and state laws require the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem to represent an abused or neglected child in all stages of a judicial proceeding. The child’s attorney may serve as GAL unless or until a conflict of interest arises.