Rhode Island prioritizes protecting children during divorce proceedings, and appointing a guardian ad litem (GAL) is one way the courts accomplish this. If you’re going through a divorce and want to make decisions on support, custody, and visitation without putting your child through undue stress, it’s important you know what a GAL is and how having one appointed may assist your whole family. 
A GAL is often a lawyer or a mental health professional appointed by the court to investigate and report on the best interests of the child. In doing this, a GAL must:
To determine who may be more fit to raise the child, the GAL does research and conducts interviews into the lives of the parents and environments they’ll provide for the child. Commonly, a GAL will speak with coworkers, neighbors, friends, and family members. Additionally, a GAL will conduct home visits.
If during the course of an investigation the GAL fears the child is in danger emotionally or physically, he makes motions with the court to keep the child safe.
Part of determining the child’s best interests includes speaking with the child at length to understand her point of view. Additionally, the GAL explains these events to the child in a way she can understand.
Since the GAL is a representative for the child, he relays information to the court to enlighten the decision-making process that will occur. Additionally, the GAL speaks for the child in trial and other court proceedings.
The best interests of a child can mean different things to different people, so the law provides criteria for the GAL to work by. According to Virginia law, the best interests of a child include:
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