Family Violence & Best Interests Advocacy: Practice Tips for GALs Working on Cases Involving Family Violence

This is a training presentation created by Kids’ Voice of Indiana for Attorneys and Non-Attorney Guardian ad Litems (GALs) and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs).

This course directly relates to the practice of law and the professional responsibilities of attorneys serving as Guardians ad Litem (GALs) in Indiana family law proceedings. GALs are appointed by the court to investigate, evaluate evidence, and make recommendations regarding the best interests of children in custody, parenting time, and related matters. These duties require the application of Indiana’s best interests standard, evidentiary analysis, and professional judgment that directly informs judicial decision-making.

The course focuses on identifying and evaluating evidence of domestic and family violence encountered during best interest investigations, including non-physical forms of abuse such as emotional, verbal, and financial abuse, as well as coercive control. It addresses indicators GALs should be aware of when assessing family dynamics, how such evidence informs custody and parenting time recommendations, and how to advance the child’s best interests while avoiding recommendations that may inadvertently re-victimize survivors.

The program also examines the intersection of domestic violence perpetration and parenting capacity, including its impact on co-parenting effectiveness, child safety, and emotional stability. It emphasizes the attorney’s responsibility to conduct thorough, impartial, trauma-informed investigations and to base recommendations on the evidentiary record and applicable Indiana law.

Family Violence & Best Interests Advocacy: Practice Tips for GALs Working on Cases Involving Family Violence

External Participant Registration Ticket