RCW 26.09.110; .140; .220 ; 26.26.555; 26.10.130; 26.12.175; GALR Mandatory Form (05/2018) FL All Family 146 Order Appoint ing Guardian ad Litem for a Child p. 1 of 4 Superior Court of Washington, County of In re: Petitioner/s (person/s who started this case): And Respondent/s (other party/parties): No. Order Appointing Guardian ad Litem for a Child (ORAPGL) Order Appointing Guardian ad Litem for a Child Use this form to appoint a GAL to investigate and report on a child222s best interests for a Parenting Plan or Residential Schedule. Do not use this form to appoint a GAL for a minor parent or a child over 2 who is a mandatory party to a parentage case; use form FL All Family 147 instead. 1. A motion to appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for the children listed below was made by the (check one): Petitioner Respondent Court: Child222s name Age Child222 s name Age 1. 4. 2. 5. 3. 6. 2. The court finds it is in the best interest of the children listed in 1 to appoint a Guardian ad Litem. The court has authority to make this appointment under (check one): divorce (dissolution) law, Ch. 26.09 RCW. parentage law, Ch. 26.26 RCW. non-parental custody law, Ch. 26.10 RCW. domestic violence law, Ch. 26.50 RCW. The court orders: 3. (GAL222s name): is appointed Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for the children listed in 1 above. The GAL must always act in the children222s best interests. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com RCW 26.09.110; .140; .220 ; 26.26.555; 26.10.130; 26.12.175; GALR Mandatory Form (05/2018) FL All Family 146 Order Appoint ing Guardian ad Litem for a Child p. 2 of 4 4. GAL222s Rights All parties must serve the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) with: Notice of any court hearing or proposed agreement involving these children, and Copies of all documents they file in this case. The court clerk must give the GAL free, certified copies of this Order, upon request. 5. GAL222s Duties The Guardian ad Litem222s (GAL222s) duties include: Going to all court hearings and pretrial conferences for this case that are related to the children, unless the court says otherwise, and Investigating and reporting factual information to the court on issues set out below. The GAL is ordered to investigate and file a report only on the issues checked below, unless the court approves investigation into other issues (check all that apply): All issues related to making a parenting plan for these children All issues related to deciding who the legal parents are for these children Whether genetic testing should be done to decide who the legal parents are Whether the children222s names should be changed Abandonment or neglect by Petitioner Respondent Criminal history of Pet. Resp. Other: Domestic violence of Pet. Resp. Other: Mental health issues of Pet. Resp. Other: Physical health issues of Pet. Resp. Other: Sexual abuse allegations against Pet. Resp. Other: Substance abuse of Pet. Resp. Other: For cases about changing a parenting/custody order: whether the children have been integrated into the home of the parent who has less time under the current order. Other: Any other issues discovered that could affect the safety of the children. 6. GAL222s Report The Guardian ad Litem222s (GAL222s) report must include: Facts about the issues listed in 5 above. The children222s preferences for the parenting plan (if they stated any), Any facts about whether the children stated their preferences voluntarily, and Any facts about the children222s level of understanding. The report may include recommendations based on the investigation. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com RCW 26.09.110; .140; .220 ; 26.26.555; 26.10.130; 26.12.175; GALR Mandatory Form (05/2018) FL All Family 146 Order Appoint ing Guardian ad Litem for a Child p. 3 of 4 Deadline! Unless the court extends the deadline, the report must be filed and served on all parties by (date) , which is at least 60 days before the trial. The parties (or their lawyers, if any) have the right to inspect and copy the GAL222s file of data gathered during the investigation, including the names and addresses of everyone the GAL consulted. Exception: information in the GAL222s file that is confidential by law or sealed by a court shall not be shared with the parties or their lawyers. 7. Access to the children and information The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is allowed reasonable access to the children, and to all records and people with information that affects the children, including: Child care providers Physical and mental health care providers Schools and other educational institutions Law enforcement agencies, Child Protective Services, and the Department of Social and Health Services (or equivalent agencies if outside Washington) Note: agencies may withhold or black out legally protected parts of requested information. 8. Release of information The signatures of parties or children age 12 or older below mean they give permission to the agencies and professionals listed in 7 above to share information about themselves and their children with the GAL. 9. Confidentiality The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) will: Have access to all Superior Court and Juvenile Court files related to his/her duties, including sealed and confidential documents. Exception: The GAL will not have access to information sealed under RCW 13.50.050(7); Keep confidential any sealed and confidential information (unless his or her duties as GAL require otherwise); Tell the court if his/her report includes any sealed or confidential information; and File his or her report in two parts: one public and one sealed as required by GR 22. Any party or the GAL may ask the court to make confidential any reports or documents placed in the file, if there is a good reason to do so. 10. GAL222s Fees The Guardian ad Litem222s (GAL222s) hourly fee is $ . The GAL may not charge more than a total of $ without court review and approval. The GAL222s fees will be paid as follows (check one): % paid by Petitioner % paid by Respondent % paid by (specify): American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com RCW 26.09.110; .140; .220 ; 26.26.555; 26.10.130; 26.12.175; GALR Mandatory Form (05/2018) FL All Family 146 Order Appoint ing Guardian ad Litem for a Child p. 4 of 4 % or $ paid by the County at public expense. However, if the parties222 financial circumstances change, the court may order the parties to pay the fees according to their ability to pay. Other: Billing Process: The GAL must file an itemized statement of time and expenses with the court and provide a copy to the person/s or entity responsible for payment. The GAL may file any request for payment with the court, along with an itemized statement and a proposed order. 11. Appointment Ends The GAL222s appointment ends when the GAL is discharged by the court or earlier if: the final Parenting Plan or Residential Schedule is signed by the court. parentage is decided. other (specify): 12. Other orders (if any): Ordered. Date Judge or Commissioner Petitioner and Respondent or their lawyers fill out below: A party222s signature authorizes release of information as described in 8 above. This document (check any that apply): This document (check any that apply): is an agreement of the parties is an agreement of the parties is presented by me is presented by me may be signed by the court without notice to me may be signed by the court without notice to me Petitioner signs here or lawyer signs here + WSBA # Respondent signs here or lawyer signs here + WSBA # Print Name Date Print Name Date Children age 12 or older sign below to authorize release of information as described in 8: Child signs here Print name Date Other child signs here Print name Date Guardian ad litem signs below to accept appointment: GAL signs here Print name Date American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com