Lexington, South Carolina: Guardian Ad Litem

A guardian ad litem is a formal advocate for a child who is either directly or indirectly involved in a civil court proceeding. The job of the guardian ad litem (GAL) is to be an advocate for the best interests of the child.

This role may be especially critical in contested custody and visitation cases and other family law disputes — where the parents may each try to paint themselves as the best qualified parent for the child.

In some types of family law cases, parents may select the guardian ad litem for their child. At the Law Office of Richard J. Breibart, LLC, our lead family law attorney is also a trained and experienced guardian ad litem. Attorney Nancy T. Jordan has dedicated many volunteer hours to working on behalf of children caught up in the court system.

If you have general questions about the role of the guardian ad litem, or if you are seeking a guardian ad litem for your child, we encourage you to contact our office to speak with Ms. Jordan about her qualifications and her dedication to the rights of children in the justice system.

What Does a Guardian Ad Litem Do?

The guardian ad litem's responsibility is to communicate to the court about the child's welfare during the judicial process and about what outcome would be in the best interest of the child. As part of fulfilling this role, the GAL interviews all parties involved in the litigation, reviews the pleadings of all parties, may visit the home or proposed home of the child at issue, interviews the child and other witnesses involved in the case. The GAL will spend a great deal of time with the child — explaining the court process and answering any questions the child may have.

In a judicial system that is built on the adversary process, the GAL helps insulate the child from some of the conflict that occurs as the case proceeds. Just as importantly, the GAL makes sure that the child understands the role of every person in the courtroom.

A guardian ad litem may be — but is not required to be — a lawyer. Ms. Jordan, as a licensed attorney and trained guardian ad litem with more than four years' experience advocating for children in the judicial system, offers the best of both worlds to her young clients. She is a dedicated children's advocate who can also explain how the legal system works.

Consult the Law Office of Richard J. Breibart, LLC

To speak with attorney Nancy T. Jordan about the guardian ad litem process or about your child's need for a GAL, we encourage you to contact our office today.

We provide free, in-person consultations, and we may have appointments available in the early mornings, evenings and on the weekends for your convenience. Call us locally at 803-753-1834 or toll-free at 866-645-8743. Or send us an e-mail for a prompt response.