In the context of family law, a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) is a court-appointed person whose main duty is to look after the best interests of a child. GALs have traditionally been required in abuse and neglect cases, but not in divorce cases. However, the use of GALs in divorce cases is becoming more common with time. Why a GAL is necessary As broadly defined above, a GAL is needed to ensure that the child's interest and welfare are catered for during the divorce.

Just before you have surgery, a doctor or medical provider will have you sign a paper that gives your consent for the doctor to do the procedure, but this document is also giving consent when you know that there are certain risks involved. A lot of people assume that because they have signed this paper, there is not much they can do if they wake up after surgery and something is terribly wrong.

Divorce can be a difficult situation, but when children are involved in the equation, it can be even more difficult. A child, no matter the age may have an issue with a divorce. Essentially a big part of their lives will no longer be living in the home. This difference in the living situation can cause a lot of confusion in a child's mind. Help your child get through your divorce without any negative effects on your child's life.

The summer months are meant to be fun, exciting, and relaxing for families. Unfortunately, divorced parents may find that the summer months bring on additional stresses. After all, most co-parenting (or custody) plans differ during the summer months. Fortunately, you can make sure summer is fun and stress-free by being proactive. Before the warmer months of summer arrive, be sure to follow these three tips. 1. Create a Plan If you don't already have a parenting plan in place for summer, do it now.

If you are going through a divorce, you will want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to prepare yourself legally. One of the best ways to do that is to retain a divorce attorney. It is true that you are able to represent yourself through the divorce, but it might not be in your best interest. Take a moment to review the following benefits of having a skilled lawyer by your side throughout this process.

For those who are divorced and also the parents of a minor child, the custody and visitation agreement that was hammered out during your divorce may have been working just fine; until it doesn't. The family court system and judges, and you and your ex all know how fast children can grow and change, and at some point your great plan may need to be updated to accommodate your maturing child, particularly those who are entering the preteen or teen years.

Going through a child custody battle is one of the worst types of legal battles because of the emotional toll it takes on not only you, but also your family, and your own children. To ensure that the process goes smoothly and you avoid too much emotional turmoil, it's important to avoid making these four all too common mistakes: Getting Into Legal Trouble: It's not going to reflect too well with the judge determining the child custody terms if you are arrested or involved in any other legal trouble, such as getting your license revoked because of a DUI.

If you've recently suffered the unexpected loss of your last living parent, you may be having trouble handling the variety of administrative matters that arise whenever anyone passes away without a clearly-communicated plan in place. While a probate administrator can often be an invaluable resource to help sort through your parent's unpaid debts and capital assets, some Michigan heirs are upset after their loved ones' homes were sold even while the heirs were making regular tax payments.

Although domestic violence is an obvious problem in the United States and throughout the world, it's important to note that recent estimates are that about 700,000 people are arrested due to false allegations of domestic violence every year. If you are one of those wrongfully accused persons, it's essential for you to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately to clear your name and maintain your current quality of life.

According to the latest available statistics, approximately 4.5 million kids born in America have at least one undocumented parent. With ICE agents aggressively capturing undocumented persons and the US Citizenship and Immigration Service stepping up deportations, many mixed citizenship families are rightfully afraid they will be split apart over the next few years. If you're at risk of being deported, here are a few things you can do to protect your kids.