Guardian Ad Litem

GUARDIAN AD LITEM

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guardian , usually a lawyer, appointed by the court to appear in a lawsuit on behalf of an incompetent or minor party. Black’s Law Dictionary 774 (9th ed. 2009).

A guardian is a person who acts to protect or help someone. “Ad litem” means “for the lawsuit”. There are different kinds of guardians ad litem for different kinds of cases. In some cases, the judge names a “guardian ad litem” to work with a child or a person who has a disability that makes it hard for them to understand a case that involves them. In other cases, like in custody cases or neglect or abuse cases, a guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate and stand for the child’s best interests. In some cases, a guardian ad litem can be helpful to protect a child’s right to safety and appropriate care in a custody arrangement. An experienced family law attorney can help you to determine if a guardian ad litem is appropriate for your case and can request that the court appoint someone to represent your child’s best interest in court.