Schaumburg Guardian Ad Litem Lawyer

Family Law Attorneys Assisting With Contested Child Custody Cases in Northwest Cook County

When parents are divorcing, or if they are unmarried and separated, they may not agree on how they will share parenting responsibility or how much time each parent will have with the children, and they may struggle to resolve these disputes. In some cases, there may be worries about domestic violence, or a parent may have a history of drug or alcohol addiction. Even if concerns about children's health and safety are not an issue, anger between the parents or other divorce-related conflicts may affect their ability to agree on matters related to their children.

In situations where parents are unable to agree on a parenting plan, their case may proceed to litigation. If a family court judge is tasked with making decisions about child custody, he or she may appoint one or more outside experts to evaluate the case and determine the best ways to protect the best interests of the children. These experts may include a guardian ad litem, or GAL.

In situations where a GAL has been appointed, parents will need to make sure to take the correct steps to protect their rights and show that they can meet their children's needs. [title]] provides representation for parents in family law cases, and our lawyers also have experience serving as GALs. We can help parents understand how to proceed as they work with a guardian ad litem, and we can advocate for solutions that will allow them to maintain strong relationships with their children.

Duties of a Guardian Ad Litem

A judge presiding over a family law case will want to have as much information as possible to make decisions that will be in the best interests of the children involved. To ensure that they know all of the relevant details of the case, the judge may appoint a guardian ad litem who can collect data and offer suggestions about issues related to the allocation of parental responsibilities or parenting time. Either parent involved in the case may also request that the judge appoint a GAL to address concerns related to their children.

While a GAL is an attorney, they will not represent either parent. Instead, they will act on behalf of the children and advocate for solutions that will provide for the children's best interests. The guardian ad litem may investigate the situation using multiple methods, which may include:

• Consulting with both parents' lawyers to ensure that they fully understand the legal problems that need to be addressed and the issues that are being disputed.
• Interviewing both parents about their preferences regarding the custody of their children and working to gain an understanding of how child-related responsibilities have been handled by the parents in the past.
• Speaking to the children and asking questions about their relationships with their parents, their desires about where they would like to live, and when they would like to spend time with both parents, while also learning about their concerns and taking their ages and maturity levels into account.
• Performing home visits with each parent, which will allow the GAL to determine whether the parents can provide a safe home environment and meet children's ongoing needs, while also providing the GAL with insight into how the children interact and relate with each parent.
• Speaking to others who may provide insight into issues that affect the children, such as doctors or teachers, as well as reviewing documents like school records or reports by doctors or therapists.

The GAL will submit a report that details the information gathered during the investigation while also providing recommendations about how parenting time and parental responsibility may be handled going forward. While the judge will not be required to follow the GAL's recommendations, the decisions made will likely be based on a careful consideration of the report that was submitted.

Contact a Schaumburg Child Custody Lawyer

If you are dealing with a guardian ad litem, the attorneys of A. Traub & Associates can help you answer their questions and provide any requested information. We can advise you on how to take the right steps to protect your rights, and we will advocate on your behalf to ensure that issues related to child custody can be resolved with minimal disruptions to your relationship with your children. Contact us today at 630-426-0196 to arrange a confidential consultation.