ZOBY & BROCCOLETTI

GUARDIAN AD LITEM

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Guardian ad litem, (GAL), means “guardian for the suit.” A guardian ad litem in Virginia is an attorney appointed by a judge to assist the court in determining the circumstances of a matter before the court. It is the responsibility of the guardian ad litem to provide independent recommendations to the court about the client’s best interests, which can be different from advocating for what the client wants, and to bring balance to the decision-making process. The GAL may conduct interviews and investigations, make reports to the court, and participate in court hearings or mediation sessions. Lisa Broccoletti handles all GAL cases for our law firm.