Proposal would add education requirements for GALs

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Lawmakers and other stakeholders in the justice system are asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to set education requirements for guardians ad litem who represent children in certain family-law cases.

Judges appoint guardians ad litem to represent the best interests of minors in certain family-law proceedings, such as when a court is concerned about a child’s welfare or when parents contest legal custody or physical placement. Current state law only requires that a guardian ad litem appointed in these cases be a licensed Wisconsin attorney.

The Joint Legislative Council, following the work of a study committee made up of judges, lawyers, lawmakers and other stakeholders in the justice system, filed a rule-change proposal with  the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April.

The proposal would require guardians ad litem to acquire six hours of education before taking their first appointment, including at least three hours concerning family violence and at least one hour concerning family-court GAL topics such as mental health in divorcing families and the effects of conflict and divorce on children.

To take subsequent appointments, GALs would still need to acquire six hours of education, including at least one hour of coursework on family violence and two hours of other family-court GAL topics.

The justices will review the petition and vote on whether to take up the matter. The proposal is asking for a July 1 effective date. But that’s unlikely because the court’s term is ending soon, meaning the matter couldn’t be scheduled for a public hearing until the fall.