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What Is It?
A Law Guardian represents children in proceedings before the
Courts. Children are a special class of persons under the law. They
have different rights and responsibilities, although the trend over
time has been to lessen the distinction between children and adults.
Who Is It For?
The Court will appoint a Law Guardian, or the parties
may retain a Law Guardian, whenever the rights of a child may be affected
by a decision of the Court. Law Guardians represent children in actions for
divorce, custody, or visitation, and when there are allegations of neglect,
delinquency, or where children are alleged to be Persons in Need of Supervision
(PINS). The Law Guardian is charged with advocating for the “best interest of the child” and
of presenting the child’s desired outcome to the Court, even when,
in the opinion of the law guardian, the child’s desired outcome is
not in the best interest of the child.
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Representation of children in all matters before the Courts. |
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Mediation and negotiation/referee
services among parents and children. |
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Interviews with parents and
children in their homes or other care settings. |
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Investigations, review of
records, and other actions as determined by the circumstances. |
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In the highly charged arena of Family Court, law guardians are often the people most able to structure a resolution of the matters at issue that all the parties can agree to. |
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