A Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) serves as a child’s attorney during various court proceedings and actions.
- Juvenile Court: A child has the right to an attorney at every stage in Juvenile Court.
- Abused or Neglected Children: Children are required to have a GAL based on the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and Georgia law.
The child’s attorney can serve as a GAL in most cases.
A GAL is the child’s voice in a lot of proceedings. However, the GAL is ultimately obligated to bring to the court’s attention actions that they believe would be in the child’s best interests.
While the child may sometimes agree with the GAL, children also might not realize what is in their best interests, often depending on their age. In that type of situation, the court relies on the rational response of the GAL instead of the emotional or unreasonable desires of a child.
The Holsey Law Firm provides Guardian Ad Litem services in several counties, including Liberty, Wayne, Jeff Davis, Appling, Glynn, Tattnall, and Long. Contact us for more information about our services.
