What Is a Guardian ad Litem and What Do they Do?

If you have a high-conflict Utah divorce or child custody case, you might well encounter a guardian ad litem.

Guardians ad litem (GAL or, plural, GALs) are attorneys who work for your children.

There are two types of GALs in Utah.

The first type is a public GAL. Public GALs are lawyers who are state employees. They investigate cases of abuse and neglect. These types of GALS are usually appointed in protective order and child protective order cases.

The second type is a private GAL. Private GALs are not state employees; they are private-practice attorneys. Private GALs are those appointed in high-conflict divorce and child-custody cases.

Each type of GAL conducts an independent investigation and make recommendations regarding the best interests of your children.

The investigation process might take any number of forms, but it almost always includes, at a minimum, the GAL sitting down and talking with your kids about how things are going.

Depending on the child’s age, the GAL will ask what the child wants to do (e.g., where he or she wants to live, etc.).

(To see the statute governing private GALs, read here.)

Who pays for a GAL?

Who pays for a GAL depends on a couple things.

First, it depends on the type of GAL. You don’t pay for public GALs since they are government employees. You do pay for private GALs.

Second, who makes what is important. If one parent makes vastly more money than the other, judges and commissioners will often have that person pay more of the GAL fees.

(Note: Usually, parents end up splitting the GAL fees equally.)

Third, bad behavior can affect payment. If one party did something that necessitated a GAL (e.g., child abuse), then that person might be ordered to pay 100% of the GAL fees.

For more information

If you would like a more in-depth explanation of how GALs work, click here.

Protect Your Money And Your Family

We remove fear associated with divorce, protect your money & maximize time with your kids!

We're here to help. Let's determine your best options.

Call Us 24//7 at 801-685-9999 to Speak with a Live Representative

Utah Divorce FAQs
Top 100 Divorce Blog
What Clients Are Saying…
BrownLaw icon
Excellent
Brown Family Law
Based on 970 reviews
Daniel is guy who truly wants to help. Working with him never feels transactional. He truly does provide you with tailored solutions for divorce which is rarely a "cut and paste" situation. Thanks again for your help Daniel!
David and Dani were very helpful and made my case as stress free as possible.
Great Team. Efficient and smooth process. Excellent communication. Thank you David Hunt.
I’m so grateful for attorney Nicholas Schwarz and paralegal Carren Leavitt at Brown Family Law. From day one, they were ready to work with me immediately, making my case feel like a top priority. Their organization is exceptional, every detail was handled with care and efficiency. Most importantly, their commitment to communication stood out. They kept me informed every step of the way, answered questions promptly, and made sure I fully understood my options.

If you want a legal team that is proactive, organized, and truly dedicated to their clients, I highly recommend Nicholas and Carren at Brown Family Law.
They got my dovorce going and stayed in contact with me every week. Every step of the way anytime I had questions they were answered fast. They made it so much easier.
Clay was great to work with! He was very willing to explain everything I needed to know and helped me understand the options on my case. Very easy to work with.
Jennifer and Dani, as well the rest of the team went above and beyond when it came to my case.
I would highly recommend ‘Brown Family Law’.
My experience with them was exceptional.
Alija
Loved working with Daniel and the whole team. Great service.
Marco and his team at Brown Family Law have created nearly the perfect system for getting divorced in Utah. From the initial intake, to gathering all of the necessary documentation, to the client communication in between. There is so much work that goes into getting divorced, but with Marco and his team you'll always know where you are in the process and what happens next, which is such a comfort. Would highly recommend.
I would give them 10 stars if I could. Clay was professional and super organized. He took the time to explain everything. I would highly recommend him for any family law needed. Melanie was a godsend. She not only kept me continually informed of the progress, she sent texts of encouragement and support throughout the entire process. I would give her 100 stars for going above and beyond to make this experience less stressful. Her encouragement and genuine caring were comforting and calming. The entire staff at Brown Law are on your side and if you are lucky enough to get Clay and Melanie on your team you will not be disappointed. Thanks! Mack M.
Response from the owner:Wow, thank you so much. Melanie is great. Glad she helped you so well.
yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7

Categories