Hey guys, I need some advice. The other day, my child spoke with their Guardian ad Litem (GAL), and the GAL said they weren’t acting as the GAL and would look into getting my child a GAL instead. This is confusing because according to the court order, this person was appointed as the GAL to represent my child.
The GAL also mentioned they couldn’t speak on behalf of my child in court. The court order clearly states that they are appointed to serve as the GAL.
Does anyone have any insights into why this might be happening? We’ve already been to court once, and there was a previous meeting between my child and the GAL. It seems like they might not want to handle this case.
From what I’ve gathered from my dad (although I might be missing some details), a child can end up with two GALs in certain situations where the concepts of “best interest of the child” and “child’s wishes” diverge.
For example, if a child expresses a desire to live with their dad, but the dad has irregular episodes of substance abuse, that wouldn’t align with the child’s best interests.
My dad practiced law in Georgia, focusing on criminal and family law, and later specialized in special education law.
There might be a misunderstanding or miscommunication about the GAL’s role or their current capacity to serve in the case. It’s possible that the GAL’s role or responsibilities have changed since the initial appointment.
If the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in Tennessee denies acting as your child’s representative, you should directly address them or file a complaint with the court. This action may lead to the GAL’s removal from the case if they are not fulfilling their duty to protect your child’s best interests.