Washington - Families' futures decided with little oversight

This article puts into perspective the issues that surround parent evaluators, Guardians ad litem and other court sanctioned divorce industry businesses/ people. Quite often the methods used in testing parents are questionable relying on junk science or psycho-eugenics to determine a parents ability to parent.



Seattle PI

In the field of family law, a little-examined group of professionals has enough influence to separate fathers from children and relegate mothers to weekends-only status, based on little more than an opinion.

So-called parent evaluators need no particular credentials or training. They may use any method they wish, charge what they please and remain virtually free of oversight. Yet their word can upend families in a single stroke.

In recent decades, as dockets have become clogged with warring parents battling for custody of their children, overwhelmed judges have turned increasingly toward this cluster of psychologists and social workers for guidance. But as there is almost no check on their influence, any human foible might result in a faulty or unfair report -- with enormous implications for those families under the microscope.

Full story: Seattle PI

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Maine - Notice of Opportunity to Comment - Proposed Amendment Rules for Guardians ad litem

The Judicial Branch in Maine is looking for comments regarding the proposed amendments to the rules for Guardians ad litem. This is an opportunity to express your thoughts on what future parents/ consumers will have to work with. Your experience with Guardians ad litem may have an impact on whether or not this amendment is used, canned or modified. That experience will mean nothing unless you respond by December 2, 2013 at 6:00 pm. Silence gives consent.

Want some ideas -

There is an abundance of ambiguous words and statements - "fair", "cultural sensitivity", "professionalism" and "ethics". While is is nice that these ideas are incorporated there is no way to define what or how these ideas will be applied. There is no defined means of testing whether a Guardian ad litem has been "fair" as example.

Training has been increased from the 16 hours Guardians ad litem go through and there is defined curriculum. Is this enough?

What is the best interest of the child? The phrase is used multiple times. While Maine has attempted to define this concept in statutes there is no means for testing whether a recommendation made by a Guardian ad litem is in a child's best interest. It tends to be based on the bias that the GAL brings to any case. Is taking a 4 year old to a bar late at night and exposing that child to violent adult behavior in the child's best interest? A Guardian ad litem thought so - the courts agreed - and the practice was allowed to continue.

You do not have to write a book, a single line comment is fine. Emailed comments may be mailed to: lawcourt.clerk@courts.maine.gov

The Judicial Branch has a web page with instructions that may be found here: Proposed Amendments to Maine Rules for Guardians Ad Litem
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For a pdf copy of the proposed rules: Maine Rules for Guardians Ad Litem

Because we do not know if comments will be posted - please CC any correspondence to MeGALalert@gmail.com so that we may post your comments for others to see.

Oversight and Complaints - Easier through Overseers of the Bar

We have been told that the Overseers of the Bar would provide an effective means of Guardian ad litem oversight and management. We have also been told that the means of filing a complaint through the Overseers is something that the average person would be able to understand and do on their own. While it is true that anyone can file a complaint - and that a lawyer is not needed - as many are being told. The problem is understanding the Rules and Rules for professional Conduct.

Because the public are being told how easy it is to understand what they will have to deal with we are publishing both the Rules and Rules of Professional Conduct so that you can get a preview of what is to come for Guardians ad litem. Before diving in and reading here are some statistics:

The rules consist of 62 pages and 40205 words. The Rules of Professional Conduct comes in at a lite 138pages and 87700 words (the current flawed Rules and Standards for Guardians ad litem come in at a hefty 18 pages and 8008 words). Both of these documents are allegedly easier to understand and as Rep Jarrod Crockett would have us believe - make for an easier process for management, oversight and more importantly filing a complaint. It is nice to know that Rep Crockett is so concerned about making things easier for his constituents and citizens of Maine as to support a process that only a lawyer could love.

For more information please contact us at MeGALalert@gmail.com or keep up to date on Facebook.

We present to you a preview of what is to come courtesy of the Maine Overseers of the Bar:

pdf versions -

The Rules

The Rules for Professional Conduct