General information
Guardians ad litem (GAL) are individuals appointed by the court to investigate a situation and make recommendations to the court based on the best interests of the person who is dependent or incapacitated. GALs are used in a variety of cases such as guardianship and family law. There may be a fee for their services depending on financial circumstances.
A similar function is served in Clark County by Family Court Services. This office provides child custody evaluations in family court situations at the request of the court. There is a fee for this service depending on financial circumstances.
Additional resources
More information about guardians ad litem can be found in these resources:
- What is a Guardian ad Litem and When Should I Request One? from Navigate Law Group
- Guardians ad Litem in Family Law Cases from Washington LawHelp
- How to Work with GALs and Parenting Evaluators from Washington LawHelp
- Guardian Ad Litem Report: The basics and how to respond from Washington LawHelp
- Your Family Law Case: If You Cannot Afford the GAL Fee from Washington LawHelp