Guardians ad Litem

What is a Child Custody Guardian ad Litem?
In contested custody cases, a Civil Court District judge may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to provide the Court with an objective, child-focused perspective. The GAL conducts an independent investigation into the child’s needs—gathering information from parents, caregivers, and collateral sources—and offers clear, informed recommendations about what arrangement best supports the child’s well-being and best interests.

Unlike GALs who serve as volunteer child advocates in cases of abuse and/or neglect, Child Custody GALs are court-appointed professionals, typically an attorney or mental health clinician, paid by the parties in the contested custody case (per N.C.G.S. §1A-1, Rule 17).

What are the Qualifications?
North Carolina has 43 judicial districts, and each determines its specific requirements to serve as a Child Custody GAL. Professionals pursuing approval as a GAL should reference the local rules for the districts they wish to serve.

Center for Cooperative Parenting oversees and manages GAL applications for Judicial District 18 (Chatham and Orange County). Applicants can view District 18 Local Rules here.

For District 18, the requirements to serve as a Child Custody GAL are:

(1) Hold a master’s or doctorate degree in psychology, law, social work, or counseling.
(2) Have at least five years of related professional post-degree experience.
(3) Hold a current North Carolina license in your area of practice.
(4) Participate in 24 hours of training in topics related to the developmental stages of children, the dynamics of high-conflict families, the stages and effects of divorce, problem-solving techniques, mediation, and legal issues. NOTE: The CCP Parenting Coordinator training meets these criteria.
(5) Participate in an additional 4 hours of training specifically about the Child Custody GAL role and process

How Do I Get Appointed?
Once an applicant has met the above qualifications, they must submit their request for inclusion on the official GAL list for each district where they wish to serve.

For District 18, once all requirements have been met, applicants should submit the form for review by Center for Cooperative Parenting. Once approved, that professional may be appointed by the Court as a GAL.