Get CA FL-935 2008-2024

A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is a person appointed to look out for another person's best interest during a legal matter. In California, GALs who are appointed to children under 18 are often called minor's counsel.

Guardians Ad Litem as Agents of the Court Superior Court, 91 Cal. App. 4th 1303 (2001).) A GAL "is appointed merely to aid and to enable the court to perform [its] duty of protection" of the interests of minors and wards.

To apply to be a guardian ad litem, you must be over the age of 18 and fill out an application that will be reviewed by the court. If the child does not have any specific family member or person applying, an attorney or social worker may be assigned as their guardian ad litem instead.

Under California law, anyone over the age of eighteen years can be nominated and approved by the court as a guardian ad litem. Usually it is either the mother or father of the injured child; in some cases, it is another close family member or friend.

What Does a Guardian ad Litem Do? A guardian ad litem represents the interests of an incapacitated person in court. They will make decisions on behalf of the incapacitated party and, to the best of their ability, see that the interests of the incapacitated party are pursued and protected.

A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is a person appointed to look out for another person's best interest during a legal matter. In California, GALs who are appointed to children under 18 are often called minor's counsel.

The reasonable expenses of the guardian ad litem, including compensation and counsel fees, shall be determined by the court and paid as it may order, either out of the property or by plaintiff or petitioner.

Section 7635. 7635. (a) The child may, if under the age of 12 years, and shall, if 12 years of age or older, be made a party to the action. If the child is a minor and a party to the action, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court.