Guardian ad Litem (GAL)
A court-appointed advocate whose job is to represent the child's best interests.
A GAL investigates the family situation, interviews everyone involved, and reports back to the judge. They may recommend a custody arrangement to the court.
Related terms
Where this term shows up in a custody case
Definitions matter most when they hit your order, your schedule, or your evidence.
- Custody and family law glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms in your order.
- Parenting plan guides by state
Filing venue, required classes, and the terminology each state's courts use.
- Custody schedule patterns explained
2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/week-off, and every other common rotation.
- Court-ready co-parenting messages
Timestamped, uneditable messaging with per-person read receipts.
- Court-approved co-parenting records
What makes a custody record admissible and how CustodyTrac meets that bar.
- Free co-parenting app for both parents
Shared calendar, messaging, expenses, and court-ready exports at no cost to either household.
Turn definitions into a working parenting plan
CustodyTrac is a free co-parenting app that gives you a shared custody calendar, tamper-evident messages, and court-ready records — no cost to either parent.
Create your free account