Guardian Ad Litem

What is a Guardian Ad Litem?
In North Carolina, guardian ad litem (GAL) is a trained community member appointed by a District Court Judge to investigate and determine the needs of a child(ren), in a custody case or a case through the Department of Social Services (DSS). A GAL can be helpful in high conflict custody cases to have an independent investigator to gather and assess information about a child’s situation, needs, home, and relationships. A GAL will ensure that the Judge knows the child’s wishes, will help keep a child informed about the court process, make recommendations in the child’s best interest, and monitor a child’s situation and relationships on an on-going basis to ensure the child’s needs are consistently being met.

Attorney Patel is a trained GAL and has been appointed in a number of cases to be the voice of children in the Court system. If you believe your child needs a voice in the midst of a separation or a court battle, Attorney Patel can be that voice for your children.