Guardians ad litem, often referred to as "neutral decision-makers," are appointed by a judge in some instances of domestic relations and child welfare. Below are resources concerning these appointments and how child custody evaluations can affect your family.

• Become a Guardian ad Litem
  National CASA
  This national website is equipped to answer all your GAL/CASA-related questions.
  CASA Net
  Volunteer your time as a guardian ad litem and help kids who need you.
  
• State Custody Evaluations
  Connecticut
  Search Connecticut's law library for relative custody evaluation information.
  Maine
  The Maine Judiciary offers helpful information on guardians ad litem.
  Massachusetts
  Visit the Massachusetts network of guardians ad litem.
  New Hampshire
  This New Hampshire court page provides important contact information.
  Rhode Island
  The Rhode Island Judiciary allows access to links to family court pages.
  Vermont
  Vermont's official GAL page.
  

• According to a 1997 report of the Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:

  - Approximately 10 percent of divorces involve custody litigation.

  - Custody evaluation is composed of several phases: preparing strategy, performing clinical evaluation, writing the report and testifying in court.

Some of the following research reports and articles are accessible via the Internet. Others are not accessible on the web as they require a password, such as those law review articles found on Lexis Nexis and Westlaw. Articles may be found in your local library or law library.

Buss, Emily. You're my What? The Problem of Children's Misperceptions of their Lawyer's Roles. 64 Fordham L. Rev. 1699, 1702
An insightful article discussing the misconceptions children may have with legal representation and what legal professionals can do.

Barcus, Elizabeth H., Edens, John F., and Otto, Randy K. Special Issue Child Custody Evaluations: The Use of Psychological Testing in Child Custody Evaluations.
38 Fam. & Concil. Cts. Rev. 312
Explores the ways in which court assess child custody situations through methods of custody evaluation.

Massachusetts Case Law

Guardianship of Clyde, 694 N.E. 2d (Mass. 1998) (MS Word format)
The maternal grandparents of the child filed a petition for guardianship and the biological father sought custody. The grandparents contended that the court did not have sufficient evidence determining that the father was a fit parent. The court ruled that based on a report of the child's GAL, there was in fact sufficient evidence proving the father was a fit parent. Legal and physical custody was granted to the father.

Guardianship of a Minor, 298 N.E. 2d 890 (Mass. 1973)
(MS Word format)
Case in which a mother challenged the court's prior determination that she was an unfit parent under Massachusetts law. Custody of her children was awarded to a children's services association. The court opined that "unfit" as set forth by Massachusetts law was not a term to be defined by a legislature, but rather one that is to be interpreted based upon the discretion of the probate judge. In this particular case, the judge determined "unfit" to mean incompetent and unsuitable.

Freeman v. Chaplic, 446 N.E. 2d 1369 (Mass. 1983)
(MS Word format)
Guardianship cannot be revoked unless the previous guardians are determined to be "unsuitable" pursuant to Massachusetts law.

Case Law from other Jurisdictions

M.C. v. K.H.C., 940 P.2d 1229 (Utah 1997) (HTML format)
Case in which children sought to terminate the parental rights of their mother through a guardian ad litem.