What is the role of the Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)?
A Guardian Ad Litem represents the child in the court proceedings that are pending. The GAL advises the court as to the best interests of the child. A GAL is not an educational decision-maker unless a court specifically gives that authority to the GAL through the court order. However, a GAL has complete right to access all educational records about the child and information about the child, since that is the point of the role – to know all about the kid so they can more effectively advise the court (usually about who should have custody).
Each parent shares the rights and responsibility for the care, custody, companionship and support of their children. Parents share decisions affecting schooling, religious training, medical treatment, discipline, and emotional development. When the children cannot be with both parents at once, parents need to apply to the court for help in enforcing these rights. When the parents are not living together, these rights and responsibilities are all shared, but often the parents cannot agree on how. When parents are separated, the parental rights must be divided fairly. Since the children require a stable home, parents should address where the children will stay, and will have to decide upon visitation, support, education, medical treatment, and other related issues. When parents cannot agree, the courts will do several things. The most common is in a divorce action brought at the Superior Court or, in Rockingham and Grafton Counties, at the Family Division. Where the parents are unmarried
