Guardians ad Litem in Family Court: Answering Your Legal Questions

A GAL is an attorney, licensed to practice law in Wisconsin. The GAL’s role is to represent the best interests of the children as determined by the GAL through an investigation.

The GAL will investigate the facts, participate in negotiations, and take a position in court on legal custody and placement. The GAL is also involved in the financial issues of a case when those issues affect the children, such as child support and child expenses. The GAL does not have any of the rights or duties of a parent or general guardian. Although the GAL may be incorrectly referred to as the children’s attorney, the GAL’s role is to advocate for the best interests of the children. This may not be the same as advocating for what the children want.

When parents cannot agree on custody or placement, the court must appoint a GAL. The parents must first try mediation to reach an agreement. The court may waive that requirement in specific legal circumstances. If no agreement is reached, the court will appoint a GAL to assist the court in deciding custody or placement. The court also will appoint a GAL if the court has special concern for the welfare of a minor child. The court can appoint a GAL any time in the proceeding when the best interests of the children are at issue. The exception is in a modification proceeding if the proposed modification would not substantially alter the placement times. In that situation, the court may find that a GAL would not assist it in making its orders.

A GAL is appointed by a family court commissioner or judge, usually upon request of one of the parents. The procedure varies – some counties have lists of attorneys who take GAL appointments, other counties have contracts with specific attorneys for GAL appointments.

In representing the best interests of the children, the GAL may negotiate settlements, conduct formal and informal discovery, hire experts, interview witnesses, investigate whether there has been violence or abuse between parents, comment on proposed parenting plans or any stipulation or mediation agreement reached by the parties and participate in all court proceedings. Either party may request a status hearing before the court on the actions taken and work performed by the GAL any time after 120 days from the GAL’s appointment. 

The GAL will meet with both parents, usually separately and in the GAL’s office. The GAL will generally meet with your child. The GAL will decide when and where to meet with your child, which could be in the GAL’s office, each parent’s home, or another location. The child's input will be only one factor for the GAL to consider. It gives the child a voice, not a choice, in the outcome.

Because the GAL is an attorney, the GAL investigates facts that are relevant to the issues in your case. Much of the investigation is called “informal discovery,” which is conducted through interviews with each parent, the child, or other people with significant information. You may also be asked to sign a release authorizing the GAL to review relevant records, such as school, medical, or mental health records.

The GAL may ask other experts, such as a social worker or a psychologist, to provide input and possible future testimony regarding the case. If there are problems with alcohol or drugs, the GAL may ask a parent to participate in screening tests or ask the judge to order such tests.

The GAL also may use “formal discovery” to assist in the investigation, including interrogatories, requests for document production, or conducting depositions.

In investigating and developing input for the court’s consideration, the GAL must consider the following legal factors:

• the wishes of your child as expressed by the child through the GAL or another appropriate professional and the wishes of the ​parents;
• whether a parent has engaged in a pattern or serious incident of violence between parents;
• the safety and well-being of the child and the safety of the parent who was the victim of the battery or abuse;
• your child’s interaction and relationship with you and other family members;
• the amount and quality of time you have spent with your child in the past;
• any necessary and reasonable custodial and lifestyle changes you propose to make to spend time with your child in the future;
• your child’s adjustment to home, school, religion, and community;
• your child’s age and developmental and educational needs at various ages;
• the mental or physical health of a parent, the child, or other person living in the proposed custodial household;
• the need for regularly occurring and meaningful placement to provide predictability and stability for your child;
• the availability of child care services;
• the cooperation and communication between parents and whether either one unreasonably refuses to cooperate or communicate with the other;
• each parent’s ability to support the other parent’s relationship with the child and the likelihood a parent will interfere in the other parent’s continuing relationship with the child;
• any physical abuse or problems with alcohol or drugs;
• the reports of appropriate professionals; and
• other significant factors that would affect your child’s well-being.

The GAL generally will give the parents and/or attorneys a preliminary summary of what the GAL will present to the judge. The input could change depending on additional evidence or facts that are uncovered. Generally, the parents’ attorneys will discuss the GAL’s preliminary recommendations with their clients. Most often, settlement proposals are exchanged, and the case is resolved by agreement. If the parents cannot agree, the case is prepared for trial before the judge, who will consider the evidence presented and make the final decision.

The judge decides who pays for the GAL’s services. The requirements vary from county to county. Generally, each parent is responsible for one-half of the GAL’s total costs, including the GAL’s legal fees and investigation costs, such as tests and experts. The court also may require the parents to pay an initial deposit and periodic payments to the GAL during the case. If the judge decides that both parents are unable to pay for the GAL’s services immediately, the judge may have the county pay the GAL bill. However, the parents still are responsible for the GAL fees and the county may require the parents to reimburse the county.

There are very limited circumstances in which a new GAL would be assigned to your case. Disagreement with the GAL’s recommendations is not a valid reason to request removal. Only the judge can remove a GAL.

By statute, the GAL serves in a case until either the parents reach a written agreement resolving the issues and the judge approves it, or there is a hearing and the judge decides the case. The judge can discharge the GAL if one is no longer necessary. If your case is appealed, the GAL is involved in the appeal process unless the court orders otherwise. If a new motion is filed in your case in the future, the judge may reappoint the same or a different GAL.