GAL Guidelines for family law cases
The Supreme Court established the Family Law Taskforce in 2019 to make recommendations to the court on innovative strategies to improve court processes. The taskforce issued its report and recommendations in March 2021. In the report, the taskforce recommended the adoption of GAL Guidelines for family law cases.
The GAL Guidelines for Civil Family Law Cases were unanimously approved by the Judicial Conference Board of Directors on September 18, 2024, and approved by the Supreme Court by written order on October 17, 2024 with an effective date of January 1, 2025. The Guidelines only apply to cases in which the GAL was appointed by the Court on or after January 1, 2025.
GAL Code of Ethics for family law cases
The GAL Code of Ethics provides Indiana Guardians ad Litem with guidelines for professional behavior and ethical conduct. This code is applicable to each GAL who serves in family law cases, which include but are not limited to: custody and parenting time matters in dissolution of marriage cases and in paternity cases; minor guardianship cases; third party custody actions in dissolution of marriage cases and in paternity cases; adoptions, grandparent visitation cases, and third party visitation cases.
GALs seeking to be included in the GAL Registry maintained by the Indiana State Office of GAL/CASA must operate in accordance with this COE and the GAL Guidelines/Rules. Each GAL must abide by this Code of Ethics.