Compassionate Legal Services

Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)

The Duties and Responsibilities of a GAL are outlined in Iowa Code §598.12. A GAL is appointed by the court as an attorney representing the best interests of a child in family law disputes. This can be limited to individual issues within cases or for representation throughout the entire matter.

Attorney for the Child

A child's attorney is appointed by the court to represent a minor in any area of law. This can be limited to individual issues within cases or for representation throughout the entire matter. I represent children as attorneys in custody disputes and juvenile guardianship matters.

Court Visitor

A Court Visitor is appointed by the juvenile court in Iowa Guardianship matters. I do this work in juvenile cases and provide an unbiased report to the court regarding issues of safety and the best interests of the children in these cases.

We perform this work from a systems perspective focusing on solutions and problem-solving for your own family. Our job is never to judge any parent, rather, our role is to support the needs of your children and family as you transition into the next stage of your life. Our goal is to set you up for success and to individualize the planning for your family with the needs of your children in mind. We will meet with you and your children individually and will likely visit your home. We review court documents, communications, and speak with collateral contacts to aid in my assessment and planning for your family.

A Child and Family Reporter (CFR) is a formal court-appointed role. The duties and responsibilities are outlined in Iowa Code §598.12B. Please have your attorney contact me directly for referral and fee information.

Collaborative Law is a specialized area focusing on dispute resolution and peacemaking without dragging the "fight" into the courtroom. In these cases I most often fill the role of a child specialist, coach, or facilitator.

Child Specialist:

A child specialist meets with parents and children and gathers information about the things that are important to each when developing parenting plans. A child's voice is often lost in the collaborative process as the parents are working together to avoid conflict, however, children's perspectives and input are valuable and should be included when possible. After gathering information I will meet with both attorneys and share the information gathered and assist in developing a parenting plan that incorporates the information gathered in the sessions with parents and children.

Coach:

A divorce coach assists one or both parties with the process of divorce. often times one party is farther along in the grief process and is ready to move forward faster with the dissolution while the other party is still processing the idea of separating their lives. A coach can assist the parties in processing while keeping the collaborative process moving forward. The coach can also provide valuable information to the attorneys as they advocate for their clients in this unique situation.

Facilitator

The facilitator helps keep everyone on task. The facilitator schedules the large meetings, meets individually with both parents, and will meet with attorneys to share information that will aid both clients in the large and individual meetings.