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Guardian Ad Litem Program
What is a Guardian ad Litem?
A Guardian ad Litem is an advocate for a child whose welfare is a matter of concern for the court. In legal terms, it means "guardian for the lawsuit". When the court is making decisions that will affect a child's future, the child needs and deserves a spokesperson - an objective adult to provide independent information about the best interests of the child. While other parties in the case are concerned about the child, the Guardian ad Litem is the only person in the case whose sole concern is the best interests of the child, and he or she is assigned as an advocate for the child for the duration of the court process.
Different from a legal guardian, the Guardian ad Litem has no control over the person or property of the child and does not provide a home for the child. The Guardian ad Litem does not function as the child's attorney and does not provide direct services to the child.
The Fourth District provides this service with a combination of paid staff and more than 250 specially-trained community volunteers. On any given day, guardians ad litem represent the best interests of some 2,500 vulnerable children involved in the court system through no fault of their own.
"Justice for children cannot be sought, let alone achieved, if their voice is not represented in the hearings that determine their fate. Guardians ad Litem are that voice." -Former Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz, Minnesota Supreme Court
Juvenile Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program
View Juvenile Guardian ad Litem Page
Juvenile Justice Center; Rm C-35
590 Park Ave, MC L878
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: 612-348-6824
Fax: 612-348-4154
Family GAL Program
View Family Court Guardian ad Litem Page
Family Justice Center
110 South Fourth Street, Suite 600
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-596-7530
Fax: 612-596-9317
View for parking and directions