Practice Area
Guardian ad Litem
An independent voice for a child’s best interests in custody and family court matters.
📅 Schedule a No-Cost, No-Commitment ConsultAs a GAL, I serve as an independent voice for children in custody and family court matters. My background in special education gives me a unique ability to advocate for the best interests of children whose disabilities must be understood and accounted for in any court decision.
I am listed as a Guardian ad Litem in the Bridgeport, Danbury, and Stamford judicial districts.
The Role of a GAL
The Child’s Best Interests, Not Either Parent’s Position
A Guardian ad Litem is appointed to advocate for a child’s best interests in custody and family court matters — separately from the position of either parent. That independence is the point. A GAL’s job is to look at the whole picture and speak for what the child needs, not for what either side is asking the court to decide, or even what the child may want.
Why My Background Matters
Custody cases involving a child with a disability have an added layer of complexity. What a diagnosis actually means day-to-day, what services and support are realistic, and how a placement decision affects a child’s educational rights are important factors. My special education background means those details get the attention they need.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a Guardian ad Litem appointed?
A GAL is typically appointed by the court in a custody or family court matter, often at the request of one or both parents, or on the court’s own initiative when a child’s interests need an independent voice. An appointment is not a finding that either parent is unfit. It usually means the court wants a neutral, child-focused look at issues that are complex or contested.
How is a GAL different from my child’s attorney or the judge?
A GAL advocates for what they determine to be in the child’s best interests, which may differ from what the child says they want. An attorney for the child, by contrast, generally advocates for the child’s expressed wishes. Courts appoint whichever role fits the case. The GAL investigates and makes recommendations to the court, but the judge makes the final decision on custody and parenting time. A parent who disagrees with a GAL’s recommendation can present their own evidence to the court.
Do you only serve as a GAL in disability-related cases?
No. A GAL can be appointed in any custody or family court matter, and I serve as a GAL in all types of cases. A disability is not required. My years as a special education teacher and administrator, my advocacy for children in foster care, and my work as a special education attorney have taught me how to understand children and their needs, and to work with parents, schools, providers, and agencies to see the whole picture. Those skills serve every child. When a child does have a disability, my background brings added depth to understanding what that child needs.