Anyone dealt with a GAL report favoring relocation?

Hey everyone, I could really use some advice here. I’m in Washington state and my daughter is 3.5 years old. We never officially set up custody through the courts, just child support services, and the order states I have 66.5% custody. I’ve been looking to relocate to a bigger city for better schooling, job opportunities, and to buy an affordable home. Her dad disagrees with the move, and after I asked him to go to mediation, he got a lawyer and motioned for a GAL. The GAL did their thing and came back in favor of the move. I’ve got a detailed parenting plan ready, but he’s still not happy about it. How much weight does the GAL report have in court? Also, what happens next? Mediation? And if mediation doesn’t work, when do we get to a final hearing? I really appreciate any advice or shared experiences. It’s been a bit stressful!

Sounds like a tough situation. From what I’ve seen, judges do take GAL reports seriously since they’re all about the child’s best interest. But if your ex keeps pushing back, mediation might not help much. You might end up just having a hearing. :grimacing:

@Noel
Yeah, if he’s already hired a lawyer and motioned for the GAL, I’d say he’s probably not going to back down easily. You might want to start preparing for the hearing now.

@Noel
Same here, I’ve seen cases like this where mediation just becomes a formality when one parent won’t budge. Good luck, hope it gets sorted out soon!

Wow, sounds like a lot to deal with! The GAL’s opinion should carry some weight, but in my experience, it depends on how the judge sees the situation. It’s awesome that you’ve already made a solid parenting plan though.

@Kimberly
I agree, the GAL report should be useful. But judges are usually looking for a strong plan for the kids, so as long as you have that covered, you’re in a good spot.

About mediation—if it feels like your ex isn’t going to compromise, mediation might be more about documenting his unwillingness to cooperate than actually resolving things. You might want to get a hearing set up sooner rather than later.

@Giselle
That’s what I was thinking too! If he’s already made up his mind, mediation might not do much. I’d say push for a hearing if things aren’t going anywhere.

Have you tried talking with his lawyer directly? It might be slow, but sometimes cutting out the back-and-forth and just focusing on your solid plan can speed things up. Mediation could be less stressful than a hearing, though.

@Fenn
I’ve tried, but his lawyer isn’t very responsive. Seems like everything takes forever. I’m starting to feel like a hearing might be faster at this point.

In my experience, the GAL’s report does hold some weight, but if mediation doesn’t work, a judge will eventually make the call. Make sure you’re super prepared with your plan and any evidence you can back it up with.

@Niall
Agreed! Having everything organized and clear will really help when you get to that hearing. It sounds like you’ve done a lot of prep already, so you’re ahead of the game!