How Guardians Ad Litem Contribute to Our Failing Family Courts System

My story

I can’t prove it, but our court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem lied to my kids. For literal months he met with them, listened to their plight, and validated their concerns. He promised he’d do what they asked, to speak out in their defense, to protect them. But then he didn’t.

I can’t prove it, but our court-appointed GAL stopped doing his job. Just weeks before our family court trial, he quit answering my kids’ phone calls, and started ignoring their emails. That day in court, then, he did absolutely nothing. Raised no questions. Never fought on their behalf. Behaved toward the judge as if he had not a care in the world, and was simply along for the ride.

I can’t prove it, but our GAL was intimidated by opposing counsel. He confessed as much during a vulnerable moment, day of the trial, to my kids’ court-approved therapist.

I can’t prove it, but opposing counsel also (probably) threatened our GAL. If I cared enough, I could prove she did the same, in writing, to the therapist.

Our GAL should never have been a GAL at all.

It’s time for him to retire. Our children deserve better.

Corrupt and inept Guardians Ad Litem are another way our family courts system fails us on a regular basis.

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What I can prove is that I have fought for my kids every step of the way.

What I can prove is that while they’ve experienced their share of trauma, they’ve learned how to overcome it.

What I can prove is that it doesn’t matter who has failed us, because we have each other.