A Guardian ad Litem advocate is a trained community volunteer who is appointed, along with a Guardian ad Litem attorney, by a district court judge to investigate and determine the needs of abused and neglected children petitioned into the court system by the Department of Social Services. Their role is mandated by North Carolina General Statute 7B-601.
Throughout North Carolina, the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program seeks to serve the best interests of thousands of children who find themselves the subjects of court cases by assigning them Guardian ad Litem volunteers. Our program exists in every county throughout the state, and we serve more than 15,000 children a year.
DISTRICT 20 A/B SERVES ANSON, RICHMOND,STANLY AND UNION COUNTIES
Throughout North Carolina, the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program seeks to serve the best interests of thousands of children who find themselves the subjects of court cases by assigning them Guardian ad Litem volunteers. Our program exists in every county throughout the state, and we serve more than 15,000 children a year.
DISTRICT 20 A/B SERVES ANSON, RICHMOND,STANLY AND UNION COUNTIES
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fREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. Who can be a Guardian ad Litem? A. Guardian ad Litem volunteers come from all walks of life and have a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. No special education or experience is required.
Q. How will I know what to do? A. The Guardian ad Litem offices across the state use a nationally-recognized training program. You will learn all about the court system and your role in it so that you can be confident when you take your first case. Q. I work full time. Can I still be a Guardian ad Litem? A. Many of our volunteers have full-time jobs. Much of the work can be done on the weekend, in the evening, or on the telephone. You would need your employer’s permission to take off work when you have a court date (every three to six months, depending on the case). Q. What is the time commitment for a Guardian ad Litem? A. The initial training program takes 25-30 hours to complete, usually in the evenings or on the weekends. After you are assigned a case, you will spend 10-15 hours per month interviewing parties, reviewing reports, attending court (if scheduled that month), and visiting with the child. The time commitment varies from case to case. |