Virginia Mothers–Be wary of Your Child’s Guardian Ad Litem

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Hofheimer Family Law

Remember ! Your Child’s Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) may oppose you in court ! Don’t ever lose sight of that possibility. You should not meet with a guardian ad litem before you have had time to talk with your attorney, if you have one. If you don’t have an attorney,you can have a one hour consultation with an experienced custody lawyer to help you figure out how best to present your case to the court appointed GAL.

Most GAL’s will ask you to fill out a parenting questionairre. Be careful how you answer questions for the Guardian. In the courtroom, they may favor dad and will try and use your questionairre answers against you. Remember the GAL is your child’s attorney, not yours. Thus, you are always in the difficult position of trying to influence the guardian to your point of view while not being overly critical or ugly about the child’s father. This is the tightrope you must carefully walk.