Child Advocates and Guardians ad Litem

These professionals are part of the BestInterest Professionals Network.

When disputes arise in custody or divorce cases, ensuring that children’s needs are prioritized can be challenging. Child advocates and guardians ad litem (GALs) play a crucial role in representing the best interests of children, acting as their voice in legal proceedings and helping parents and courts make informed decisions. These professionals work to ensure that children’s emotional and physical well-being remain at the center of every decision.

What Do Child Advocates and Guardians ad Litem Do?

  • Represent the Child’s Best Interests: Both child advocates and GALs focus on what is best for the child, rather than siding with either parent.
  • Investigate Family Dynamics: They gather information by interviewing parents, children, teachers, and other relevant parties to understand the child’s needs and family environment.
  • Provide Recommendations to the Court: Based on their findings, they make recommendations about custody, visitation, and other matters that impact the child.
  • Advocate for Stability and Safety: In cases involving high conflict, abuse, or neglect, they help create arrangements that prioritize the child’s safety and stability.
  • Facilitate Communication: They often act as a bridge between parents, children, and the court, ensuring that all parties understand the child’s perspective.

When Should You Consider a Child Advocate or Guardian ad Litem?

  • High-Conflict Custody Disputes: When parents are unable to agree on custody or parenting plans.
  • Concerns About Abuse or Neglect: To ensure the child’s safety and well-being are evaluated and protected.
  • Complex Family Dynamics: In cases involving blended families, parental alienation, or significant disagreements about the child’s needs.
  • Court-Ordered Involvement: Many courts appoint GALs or child advocates in contentious or sensitive cases.

How Child Advocates and Guardians ad Litem Use BestInterest With Their Clients

Child advocates and guardians ad litem often work with families experiencing intense conflict, inconsistent communication, or ongoing emotional strain. BestInterest gives these professionals a practical, reliable tool to understand family dynamics more clearly while helping reduce the child’s exposure to conflict.

Here are some of the most common ways GALs and child advocates integrate BestInterest into their work:

  1. Gaining a Clearer Picture of Communication Patterns: Because messages are preserved in verified, court-friendly reports, advocates can observe how parents communicate without exposing themselves—or the child—to harmful language or emotional volatility.
  2. Reducing Conflict for the Child: When parents use BestInterest, harmful messages are filtered before they’re read. This lowers overall tension and creates a calmer environment that benefits the child’s emotional stability.
  3. Supporting Safe Co-Parent Communication: For cases involving coercive control, emotional abuse, or chronic hostility, BestInterest provides a moderated communication channel. This helps GALs ensure parents have a safer, more structured way to exchange essential information.
  4. Identifying Patterns Relevant to Case Recommendations: Verified message reports help GALs identify behavior patterns—cooperation, responsiveness, boundary-setting, or hostility—that may influence recommendations around custody, visitation, or parenting plans.
  5. Helping Parents Stay Child-Focused: Tools like Tone Guardian and the Coparent Coach encourage parents to keep communication neutral and centered on the child’s needs. GALs often reference this progress when evaluating a parent’s ability to prioritize their child.
  6. Reducing Emotional Escalation Between Hearings: With harmful content filtered out and messaging guardrails in place, parents experience fewer escalations. GALs can work with families who are calmer, clearer, and more able to focus on the child’s well-being.
  7. Supporting Court Orders or Parenting Plan Compliance: Some GALs recommend or request that parents use BestInterest because it helps them monitor compliance, understand decision-making patterns, and ensure communication stays within court-ordered boundaries.

By pairing their expertise with a structured, moderated communication platform, child advocates and guardians ad litem gain a more accurate view of family dynamics—and parents have a safer, healthier way to communicate. It’s a practical tool that supports their mission: keeping the child’s best interests at the center of every decision.

What Makes a Good Child Advocate or Guardian ad Litem?

  • Relevant Training and Certification: Look for professionals certified as GALs or trained in child advocacy, family law, or social work.
  • Child-Centered Approach: They should demonstrate a clear commitment to prioritizing the child’s well-being in all decisions.
  • Strong Investigative Skills: A good advocate or GAL is thorough in gathering and analyzing information about the child’s situation.
  • Communication Skills: They must effectively communicate with children, parents, and courts to represent the child’s needs accurately.
  • Impartiality and Professionalism: They should remain neutral, ensuring that their recommendations are based on facts and the child’s best interests.

Questions to Ask a Child Advocate or Guardian ad Litem

  1. What is your training and experience in child advocacy? Look for specific certifications, such as training as a GAL or experience in child welfare.
  2. How do you gather information to assess the child’s needs? Ensure their investigative approach is thorough and unbiased.
  3. What is your process for making recommendations? Ask how they evaluate and present their findings to the court.
  4. How do you communicate with children? A skilled advocate or GAL should use age-appropriate and empathetic methods to understand the child’s perspective.
  5. Do you have experience with high-conflict or sensitive cases? If your case involves complex dynamics, ask how they’ve handled similar situations.
  6. What are your fees and how are they structured? Understand their costs and whether they offer payment plans or sliding-scale options.

Frequently Asked Questions: Guardians ad Litem (GALs)

What is the difference between a Guardian ad Litem and a Child Advocate? 

While both roles focus on the child, a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is typically an attorney or mental health professional appointed by the court to represent the child’s legal best interests in a specific case. A Child Advocate (or CASA) is often a trained volunteer who provides emotional support and reports to the court but may not have the same legal standing as a GAL.

Can a Guardian ad Litem see my text messages? 

Yes. A GAL’s job is to investigate the family dynamic, which includes reviewing communication between parents. This is why using BestInterest is crucial—it provides the GAL with a clean, organized, and timestamped report of your communication, showing that you are cooperative and child-focused, while filtering out the “noise” of a high-conflict ex.

How much does a Guardian ad Litem cost? 

Fees vary significantly by state and the professional’s background. Some GALs charge a private hourly rate (similar to a divorce attorney), which is often split between the parents. In some jurisdictions or cases of financial hardship, the court may appoint a GAL at a reduced rate or at state expense.

What does a GAL look for during a home visit? 

A GAL visits to ensure the home is safe and stable. They look for:

  • A clean, child-appropriate environment (e.g., the child has their own bed/space).
  • Positive interactions between the parent and child.
  • Evidence of daily routines (food in the fridge, school supplies).
  • Absence of conflict: They check if the parent badmouths the other parent in front of the child (a major red flag).

Why would a GAL recommend the BestInterest app? 

GALs often recommend or even mandate apps like BestInterest because it makes their investigation easier. Instead of sifting through thousands of chaotic text screenshots, they can view a court-admissible report that clearly highlights communication patterns, helping them make faster, more accurate recommendations to the judge.

Are you a Child Advocate or GAL? Consider joining our Network of Coparenting Professionals.