rankingsadmin, Author at Manassa Law P.C.

Guardian ad Litem & Child Representative Attorney in Illinois

A guardian ad litem or child representative is a court-appointed professional who investigates or advocates for your child’s interests, and attorney Deborah Reece serves in both roles across Illinois custody cases. When a judge makes that appointment, it changes the shape of everything that follows, since a third professional now has access to your home,…

Guardian ad Litem vs. Child Representative in Illinois: What’s the Difference?

Family figures and gavel. Concept of Child Custody Determination

This mix-up shows up constantly, even among lawyers. Illinois is one of the few states with a distinct statutory Child Representative role, separate from a guardian ad litem, and the two get confused by parents, out-of-state attorneys, and sometimes Illinois practitioners who don’t handle family law daily. The difference isn’t technicality. It changes how the…

What Does a Guardian ad Litem Do in an Illinois Divorce?

Wooden toy family and judge mallet. Family divorce concept

Most parents picture a guardian ad litem (GAL) as another lawyer in the room, arguing a side. That assumption catches people off guard. In a guardian ad litem Illinois divorce case involving children, the GAL investigates the family and tells the judge what arrangement serves the child’s best interests, regardless of what either parent wants…