Juvenile Court | Family Court |
A GAL is appointed under Minn. Stat. § 260C.163 in cases alleging abuse or neglect. | A GAL is appointed under Minn. Stat. § 518.165 in cases involving disputes over custody or parenting time. |
While the case types vary, the role of the GAL is basically the same regardless of case type. The statutes provide five primary responsibilities for the GAL:
The role of the GAL is also governed by the Rules of Guardian Ad Litem Procedure in Juvenile and Family Court, which are part of the General Rules of Practice for the District Courts.
In addition, the GAL Board has adopted Requirements and Guidelines (Non-statutory) that also apply to the role of the GAL.
Other Rules of Court may apply to the role of the GAL in certain cases. These may be found on Minnesota Judicial Branch Rules of Court Web site.
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