The legal framework and what to expect from the parents' attorneys.

How and where to being, how to keep files and records, how to investigate, dute to perform an idependent investigation, communication with teh parties adn the Court, how not to become one or both of the parties' lawyers, perparation adn use of the report, when the GAL's responsibility ends and more.

What we know about different types of custody, how to evaluate whether to change custody, how to implement change to minimize negative impact on the child, how to balance the necessity to reach a quick decision with teh need to evaluate over time, how to keep the best interests of the child in focus.

The ethics of the Guardian ad Litem's relationship with child, the difference between representing the child and representing the best interests of the child, duty to keep confidences, duty to preserve confidential information given by witnesses or mental health professionals, relationships with the parties.

What is important to the health and wel-being of children at various ages, how to assess this in children, how to get tehm to talk to you, how to interpret what they say or don't say, what to look for in their parents or caretakers, what are the signs of physical or sexual abuse and what to do.

A role play exercise