Guardians Ad Litem*

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On 2O March 2001,  the MASSACHUSETTS Senate Post Audit
and Oversight Committee released its report, which outlined  problems
within the Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) system.

Angus G. McQuilken
Chief of Staff, Senator Cheryl A. Jacques

Victoria Grafflin
Editor

Aaron Spira
Principal Writer and Researcher

The Bureau acknowledges the work of Sonia Chang, Rita Noonan, Amy Panek, Tobi Quinto, Roberto Di Marco, Kristin Emanuel, Amanda Hart, Regina Hill, Rosa Licea, Kate Reardon, Carolyn Ringel, Julie Ryder, and Joanna Simmons.

The Bureau would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Office of the Chief Justice of Administration and Management of the Massachusetts Trial Court, the Office of the Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court, the Massachusetts Association of Guardians Ad Litem, Greater Boston Legal Services, the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association, the Child Witness to Violence Project at the Boston Medical Center, and all of the individual Guardians Ad Litem and attorneys who offered their expertise and insight on the subject of the Guardian Ad Litem system within the Probate and Family Court. We would especially like to acknowledge the families who shared their personal and sometimes painful stories with the Committee.

Highlights

·Guardians Ad Litem (GALs) within the Probate and Family Court are appointed by a judge to investigate child custody cases and make recommendations to the court based on the child’s best interests. 

·Although GALs are called upon to make recommendations in the most difficult custody cases, Massachusetts does not ensure that GALs are properly trained to make critical decisions.

·GAL investigations and reports vary widely in thoroughness and content because no standards exist for how GALs should conduct their investigations or report their findings to the court.

·The GAL system in Massachusetts does not effectively incorporate the standards of the Presumption of Custody Law, which is designed to protect children from parents with a history of domestic violence.

·There is no widely understood process regarding how to file a complaint concerning a GAL.

Last year more than 6,000 cases in the Probate and Family Court involved a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL).  Many of these cases used a GAL to provide child custody recommendations, although GALs may be used in other situations as well, such as trust and estate cases.  The presiding judge in a child custody case appoints a GAL when he or she determines that it is not possible to decide what is in the best interests of the child based solely on evidence and testimony presented in court.  GALs are usually attorneys or clinicians and are most often appointed in difficult custody cases, frequently involving allegations of sexual or physical abuse of the child or spouse or substance abuse by a family member.  Thousands of children caught in the middle of difficult divorce proceedings are impacted by the work of GALs every year. 

In 1999, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) enacted Rule 1:07 in order to increase participation by women and minorities among fee-generating appointments in the courts, including GALs.  Rule 1:07 created a rotating system that is now used to assign all GALs so that those on the list are appointed in sequential order unless a judge provides a written explanation for making an appointment out of order.  Under Rule 1:07, each court within the state court system is required to establish general standards for listing individuals as potential court appointees.  When a GAL is appointed, the judge outlines when the report is due, how many hours the GAL should work on the case, and what issues the GAL is to investigate. 

The criteria to become a GAL in the Probate and Family Court are minimal, such as having sufficient malpractice insurance and being in good standing with the GAL’s licensing board for their underlying profession.  These minimal criteria do not address specific areas of expertise, for example, whether or not a GAL is qualified to identify signs of physical or sexual abuse.  Presently there is no structure in place to ensure that GALs entering the system from various professional backgrounds receive training in areas with which they are not familiar, but will encounter in their capacity as a GAL. 

Inadequate Training and Eligibility Guidelines

To make informed and appropriate custody recommendations, a GAL must conduct an investigation to untangle layers of family relations and differing versions of events.  Often GAL cases include allegations of domestic violence, sexual assault, or substance abuse by a family member.  In order for a GAL to determine what is in the best interests of the child, he or she needs to thoroughly understand the issues involved in the particular case.  Currently there is no mechanism to ensure a GAL who is trained in how to recognize signs of abuse will be appointed to a case involving allegations of such abuse. 

In the past, GALs in Massachusetts have not been required to receive any specific “GAL training.”  However, beginning this year, the Probate and Family Court will require all GALs to participate in six hours of professional development training each year.  This is still a minimal requirement.  By comparison, the state of New Hampshire requires 20 hours of professional development training before a person can be certified as a GAL.  The state of Minnesota, which is considered a national model for GAL systems, requires GALs to participate in 40 hours of specific GAL professional development training prior to their first appointment and 8 hours of training every year thereafter. 

Lundy Bancroft, an expert in domestic violence issues and a practicing GAL in Massachusetts, recommends extensive training specifically in the area of domestic violence, since it is often a factor in child custody cases.  Furthermore, Mr. Bancroft contends that in his experience GALs without specific domestic violence training often act in ways that put the children they are charged with protecting at risk and unwittingly re-traumatize domestic violence victims. 

Lack of Standards for GAL Investigations and Reports

GAL investigations and reports vary widely in thoroughness and content because no statewide standards exist for how GALs should conduct their investigations or report their findings back to the court.This lack of standards can create problems with the fairness and accuracy of a GAL’s assessment.  For example, although it is customary practice for a GAL to ask both parties for a list of people who they would like the GAL to speak with regarding the case, there are no guidelines describing who a GAL should interview or what questions the GAL should ask in order to make an accurate assessment of the custody situation.   According to several attorneys interviewed by the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight (Committee), some GAL reports are being filed without both parents even being interviewed.

After completing an investigation, a GAL must submit a written report to the judge to help him or her determine custody or visitation for the child in question.  However, according to a number of GALs interviewed by the Committee, there are no statewide standards for what must be included in a GAL report.  Consequently, the completeness and thoroughness of these reports vary widely.  The lack of standards for the reports can create serious due process concerns for the people involved in a case and jeopardize the soundness of the eventual custody decision. 

In addition, without a consistent standard for what a report should include, it is difficult to evaluate the quality of a GAL’s work.  Furthermore, the court does not maintain adequate data documenting the total number of cases involving GALs or complaints about GALs.  Without such documentation, there is no way to adequately evaluate the quality of a GAL’s work or the effectiveness of the GAL system.

In 1998 the Legislature enacted the Presumption of Custody Act, establishing a standard that in custody cases a judge must presume that if a parent has abused the child or the other parent, it is in the best interests of the child to be placed with the non-abusive parent.  Given this statutory requirement, it is troubling that GAL reports are not required to include evidence of domestic violence.  This law was enacted because children who witness violence between their parents have higher rates of suicide, substance abuse, and emotional, cognitive, and behavioral difficulties.  The lack of standards for GAL reports undermines the effectiveness of the Presumption of Custody Act because judges may be denied relevant information about domestic abuse.

During the Committee’s interviews with GALs, a frequently mentioned concern was the lack of a forum to answer basic questions and explain particular procedures to GALs who are unclear about how to proceed with their investigation.

No Clear Complaint Process

For the parties in a custody case, the Probate and Family Court process can be confusing.  This already difficult process can become a nightmare if a party feels that a GAL appointed to the case has acted in an incompetent or biased manner.  In such a situation, the dissatisfied party may not know where to turn for assistance.  Although Committee interviews with the Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court revealed that he will hear complaints about the process, many parties are unaware that they can bring a complaint to his attention.  Furthermore, taking an issue to the highest level of the Probate and Family Court may seem intimidating for many people. 

Currently, if a party in a case would like to file a complaint there are two choices: they can file a complaint with the presiding judge in the case or with the Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court.  During the Committee investigation, no attorney or GAL who was interviewed by the Committee was aware of any complaint process other than filing an objection about a GAL’s conduct with the presiding judge.  Presently, the Court does not provide parties or their attorneys with information regarding their rights when a GAL is appointed to their case or how they can file a complaint concerning a GAL.  Many probate attorneys interviewed were reluctant to file a complaint with a presiding judge because they would likely come into contact with the GAL in future cases and were concerned about retribution. 

The lack of a well-understood forum for resolving complaints specifically related to the GAL process creates numerous problems.  First, parties can leave the Probate and Family Court feeling that the process was unfair and that justice was not served.  Second, without a well-known system to address complaints about the conduct of GALs, allegations of bias, negligence, and incompetence may go unaddressed.  Without a centralized complaint process and adequate record keeping, it is difficult for the court to identify specific areas where a GAL might require discipline or further training.  In the most severe cases, it might be necessary to permanently disqualify a GAL. 

National Perspective

Florida and Minnesota stand out as role models for developing cohesive GAL programs.  Florida recently redesigned its GAL system and produced a comprehensive manual for all GALs.  The manual seeks to familiarize GALs with the Family Court system and the legal process, since many GALs are not attorneys.  The manual outlines specific expectations of how a GAL should conduct an investigation, including who the GAL should meet and how to help children feel at ease during an interview.  In addition, the manual specifies the appropriate structure for a GAL report. 

The Florida and Minnesota systems present a sharp contrast to the Massachusetts GAL system.  Both Florida and Minnesota require GALs to participate in extensive training prior to their first appointment in addition to attending annual training programs.  Furthermore, both states have created systems with clear standards to assist GALs in doing their job and to allow the parties in a particular case to know what to expect from a GAL investigation and report.

Findings

Progress at the Probate Court

Over the past few years, the Probate and Family Court has taken several steps to improve the GAL system.  For example, in 1998 Chief Justice Sean Dunphy of the Probate and Family Court issued an order to track the timeliness of GAL investigations.  In addition, the Probate and Family Court has been working to successfully implement SJC Rule 1:07, which created a rotating system for all fee-generating appointments.  As a result of Rule 1:07, the Probate and Family Court will mandate that all GALs participate in six hours of annual professional development training beginning in 2001.  Furthermore, the Probate and Family Court informed the Committee that it hopes to create standards for GAL investigations and reports in 2002.  As the Committee neared the completion of its review, Chief Justice Dunphy indicated that he plans to convene a committee of GALs and judges to address some of the continuing problems with the GAL system. 

Training and Eligibility

ØAlthough GALs are called upon to make recommendations in the most difficult custody cases, Massachusetts does not ensure that GALs are properly trained to make critical decisions. 

ØOther states can serve as role models for implementing training programs for GALs, including upfront training and continuing education.  For example, both Minnesota and New Hampshire require significantly more training for their GALs than Massachusetts. 

ØGAL investigations and reports vary widely in thoroughness and content because no statewide standards exist for how GALs should conduct their investigations or report their findings to the court.  There are existing guidelines on child custody evaluations by organizations such as the American Psychological Association that could be adopted by Massachusetts. 

ØOther states have published manuals establishing clear standards for GAL investigations and reports.  These states can serve as role models for Massachusetts. 

ØThe GAL system in Massachusetts does not effectively incorporate the standards of the Presumption of Custody Law, which is designed to protect children from parents with a history of domestic violence. 

ØGALs lack an effective forum to ask basic questions about the investigation and report process. 

ØThere is no widely understood process regarding how to file a complaint against a GAL. 

ØMinimal record keeping hinders the Court’s ability to evaluate the success or failure of individual GALs or to monitor the overall GAL system. 
 

Training and Eligibility

ØThe Probate and Family Court should establish thorough training and eligibility requirements for the GAL system, including: 

·A mandatory training program for all new GALs prior to being assigned to their first case, including training on domestic violence, substance abuse, and sexual assault; and 

·adequate mandatory annual professional development training. 

ØThe Probate and Family Court should develop clear guidelines describing how GAL investigations are to be conducted and what information reports should contain.  Massachusetts should follow Florida and Minnesota’s lead and publish a manual that outlines these standards. 

ØThe standards must incorporate Massachusetts’s statutory requirement that judges consider evidence of domestic violence when making custody and visitation determinations. 

ØThe Probate and Family Court should establish an advisory committee of experts that GALs can contact to answer standard procedural questions that may arise during an investigation. 

ØAll parties to a custody dispute involving a GAL should be made aware of all avenues for filing a complaint. 

ØThe Probate and Family Court should keep centralized records of all complaints filed against GALs and their resolution.

SECTION E: THE EFFECTS UPON CHILDREN OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Studies have repeatedly shown that children who are exposed to domestic violence display an increased level of distress in comparison to those children who have not been exposed to domestic violence. The degree of impairment is directly related to the level of violence experienced, as well as the child's age at the time of abuse. As we will see in this section, children who have witnessed domestic violence are very similar to children who have been direct victims of abuse.

The following scenarios may seem extreme but, in fact, they are all too common:

·A seven year old boy, fearing for his mother's safety, jumps from a second story window to get help. When the police arrive they find a neighbor stabbed and the boy's mother seriously injured by the mother's ex-spouse.

·A ten year old girl tries to physically break up her parents' fight. She is thrown from the fight and hits the radiator. As a result one of her vertebrae breaks and she is paralyzed from the waist down. 

Violence between the adult partners in a home is a reality that can not be ignored. An even greater need is to understand and realize the impact of such violence on child witnesses.

Children may be affected by family violence in any of the following ways. Keep in mind that you should look for a combination of behaviors, extremes or repeated behaviors.

BEHAVIORAL

•               Acting out or withdrawn

•               Overachieving or underachieving

•               Refusing to go to school (afraid to leave home because they feel 
                 they need to stay at home to take care of things)
•               Caretaking (filling adult roles)
•               Aggressive or passive
•               Very rigid defenses
•               Constantly seeking attention, often labeled ADHD
•               Bedwetting
•               Nightmares
•               Difficult to set limits
•               Hitting adults
•               Pre-delinquent and delinquent
•               Limited tolerance
•               Developmental regression
 

•               Guilt

•               Shame

•               Fear
•               Anger
•               Confusion
•               Depressed
•               Burdened
•               Grief
•               Insecure 

•               Somatic complaints (i.e., headaches, stomach aches)

•               Nervous, anxious

•               Short attention span
•               Tired, lethargic (seems lazy)
•               Often sick
•               Neglectful of personal hygiene
•               No reaction, at times, to physical pain
 

•               Isolated; few friends

•               Overly social

•               Relationships with playmates may start with great intensity 
                and end abruptly
•               Difficulty in trusting others
•               Poor conflict resolution skills
•               Unwilling to share or compromise
•               May be passive or bullying with playmates
•               Unclear sense of boundaries
•               Poor image or anything that is stereotypically female

WORKING WITH VICTIMS AND ABUSERS

As a GAL you will hear very conflicting sides of the story when you work with families experiencing domestic violence. Often the abuser is very cooperative -- remember that this person generally starts out a relationship with charm. This is not much different than the child who is growing up in an abusive home who initiates play relationships with great intensity and then the relationships end abruptly. It is not surprising that the majority of abusers grew up in homes where there was abuse. On the other hand, the victim may be less cooperative and may present herself or himself poorly. For the victim who is in court fighting over custody and visitation, all of her/his fears of loosing the children feel like they will come true. Keep in mind that the abuser has told the victim that no one will believe him/her.

We also need to understand how traumatic this experience can be for the child, especially when the child has also been threatened. For example, the father of one eight-year-old child threatened to kill the child if he spoke even one word about the abuse. The child in turn elected to become mute rather than risk loosing his life. It took six months of therapy before this child shared a few words.

As we will discuss later, it is important that you present yourself as a neutral individual; involved only to determine what is in the best interest of the child. If the victim or the abuser feel that you are spending more time with the other partner, you will find your job more complicated.

When making recommendations in cases involving domestic violence, it is important to remember that in general joint custody arrangements do not work well in families that have a history of domestic violence. When determining a visitation schedule, consider the following items:

·The safety of the victim and children.

·Assess how lethal the situation may be for the victim and children.
·Whether the victim will remain safe when the children are transferred from one residence to the other.
·Whether visits should be suspended or supervised? Does your community have a supervised visitation center?
·What safety plan has been developed for the victim and children; are the children old enough to comprehend and respond to a safety plan?
·Has the abuser taken responsibility for his or her behavior?
·How have the children responded to the violence; what is their level of fear or anxiety regarding visitation with the abuser?
·Is there a risk of parental abduction?

In your role as a GAL, you are expected to collect and review information on the case. In the course of collecting information you will want to talk with a number of individuals who have information about the child. In this section, we will identify the individuals you will most likely meet in the course of researching a case.
 

· We will discuss the reasons you would have for meeting and interviewing these individuals.

· We will also discuss the kind of information various professionals can provide about the child and the kind of information you may need to share with them.
 

The most obvious person you would interview is the child or children in the case. You will also interview professionals on the case, including:

· DCF Protective Investigators
· DCF Protective Service Counselor
· Foster Care Counselors
· Attorneys
· Foster Parents, if the child is out of the home.
· Teachers
· Medical Personnel
· Psychologists/Psychiatrists
· Day care Providers
· Law Enforcement

Other people who know the child should be interviewed, such as:

· Parents
· Siblings
· Legal guardians
· Extended family members
· Friends