NEBRASKA Part 50

GUARDIAN AD LITEM

A Guardian Ad Litem, or GAL, is a person appointed by the court to represent what is best for the children in a custody dispute. The GAL is generally an attorney who is supposed to look out for the "best interests" of the child/children. This may or may not mean doing what the child wants. While a GAL can be helpful, they can also be expensive. The GAL is usually an attorney, so that means another lawyer’s fee needs to be paid by someone. Sometimes a judge will not appoint a GAL until one of the parties deposits enough money with the court to assure that the GAL will be paid. If neither parent has money to pay for a GAL, and the judge feels a GAL is necessary, the judge can order that the GAL fees should be paid by the county.