While this is a step in the right direction the problem with this overhaul is that there appears no concerned citizens or parents who have faced the Family Court system were asked for their opinion. So we have lawyers developing new policies to control and provide "oversight" of Guardians ad litem. Concerned citizens and parents are left out of the process - because they are left out - a broken process remains broken. Just overhauled.
The Augusta Chronicle
The Augusta Judicial Circuit overhauled its guardian ad litem program last month, adopting new policies to contain growing outrage from families who say inexperienced child-custody evaluators are over billing them in court.
The new guidelines – written by the executive committee of the Augusta Bar Association’s Family Law Section – significantly revise billing, training and professional-conduct policies to provide general oversight and accountability for guardians, said Superior Court Judge Michael Annis.
According to updated rules, guardians cannot exceed $500 in fees on any case unless authorized by a judge, and must provide invoices that include a brief description of all charges, payments and credits to date to both parties and their attorneys each month.
Full story: The Augusta Chronicle
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