12
GAL misconduct & neglect
When children are silenced, protection can become harm
A guardian ad litem’s legal role varies by jurisdiction and appointment, but the child’s safety, interests, experiences, and voice should not disappear from the process. Harm can occur when a child is not meaningfully heard, disclosures are minimized, facts are poorly investigated, or a report misstates what the child said.
What failure can look like
- Little or no age-appropriate contact with the child before major recommendations
- The child’s expressed experience omitted, minimized, or inaccurately reported
- Safety disclosures, records, or conflicts of interest left unexplored while one adult’s account is accepted
Protect the record
Preserve the appointment order, reports, invoices, interview dates, communications, hearing transcripts, and the exact source of disputed statements. Record concerns without coaching or repeatedly questioning the child. Protect the child’s privacy and ask qualified local counsel about objections, review procedures, or complaints available in that jurisdiction.