In contested child custody cases, juvenile and domestic relations courts in Ohio may appoint a guardian ad litem to report on the child’s best interests. A guardian ad litem is a trained professional, sometimes but not always an attorney, who has the responsibility of articulating to a court what the best interests of a child are in a matter. The conclusions they draw often take a form of a written report or oral testimony at child custody hearings. The appointment of a guardian ad litem is a common occurrence when children are too young to provide information concerning their desires and wishes in a custody proceeding.
When a guardian ad litem (GAL) is appointed to a case, he or she may contact the parent for an interview in order to better understand the living situation with your child. Similarly, the GAL may meet with the child and examine how the child interacts with each parent. The purpose of this is to examine the familial bonds that have been established and how they may play out in the future. Similarly, the GAL will also ensure that each parent has a living arrangement that satisfies the core needs of a child such as food, clothing, and shelter.
While having a GAL appointed might seem intimidating, please remember that their role is to simply report to the court what they feel the best interests of a child are. A court may choose to not adopt their conclusions and recommendations. Oftentimes, GAL reports are simply one of several factors a court uses when ruling on matters relating to child custody. If you have questions concerning the appointment of a GAL to your case, you may want to consult your attorney in the matter.