Guardian ad Litem

A guardian ad litem (GAL) represents the interests of children in domestic relations actions. The guardian will investigate the situations of all parties, and will make recommendations to the court based upon the child’s best interests. You may be entitled to a family investigator, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) or GAL, for no charge or you may have to pay for the services.

Laws

Laws concerning guardians ad litem are found in RCW Title 13.34 and Title 26.

Forms

Forms from the Court's web site: Use this link if there are specific forms you would like to print.

Instructions

Instructions and GAL specific forms: These forms and instructions can help answer questions you may have.

General Information

If you would like an overview of domestic violence issues, click on a link below.
How to Request A Guardian ad Litem
Working with GALs and Parenting Evaluators

Books in the Library

Best Interests of the Child, the least detrimental alternative. KF 547 .B47 1996. Seminal work in guiding child custody decisions.

Case Management Notebooks, Reference Desk.  Once you have filed a domestic relations action, you may receive schedule from the Court for future procedures. These notebooks explain what happens and when.

Child-Centered Residential Schedules, KF 547 .W37 REF. This pamphlet describes suggested child-centered residential schedules for families which require intervention by the courts.

Family Law Deskbook, KF 505 Z99 W36 2000 REF. This 3 volume set contains detailed information about marriage, dissolution, and child custody matters. It is a good source for discussions of the law and of the policies that underlie the law. It also briefly addresses guardianships, parentage, non-marital couples, and domestic violence.

Community Property Deskbook, KF 526 .Z99 W36 1989 REF. This publication examines the ownership of property by married people in Washington. It details the basics of characterizing property as "his-hers-ours" and includes a discussion of creditor's rights and tax considerations.

Washington Practice, KFW 80 .W3 REF. Volumes 19 to 22 of this invaluable resource cover Family and Community Property Law. Here you will find detailed and technical discussions of all aspects of domestic relations law.

If You Need More Help

Family Law Facilitators: For divorce, parenting plans, and support only. The Family Law Facilitators, located in Room E215 in the King County Courthouse and Room 3D in the Maleng Regional Justice Center, can provide information on court rules and procedures, and review forms to make sure they are complete. They cannot give legal advice, provide or fill out forms, or assist in trial preparation. We encourage you to make an appointment to have all your paperwork reviewed prior to filing. There are limited walk-in hours in the mornings; we recommend you call for an appointment. 206-296-9092

How to Finish Your Divorce: Volunteer attorneys offer this seminar monthly at the library. It can help you figure out where to go and what to do next. See the list of dates and times posted on the bulletin board next to the Reference Desk in Seattle..

Attorney's Information Bureau: Located on the 6th floor of the Courthouse, the AIB sells packets of forms for a variety of legal actions, including domestic relations actions. 206-622-0734

Northwest Women's Law Center: This non-profit agency provides classes, publications, and referrals for women and men living in the Northwest. 206-621-7691

CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice, and Referral): CLEAR is Northwest Justice Project's innovative statewide toll-free telephone service for low-income people to obtain free legal assistance with civil legal problems in Washington state. The hotline operates between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. weekdays and Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

CLEAR - 1-888-201-1014