What is an Attorney Ad Litem?

An attorney ad litem is a lawyer appointed by the court to represent your child. The attorney’s job is to advocate for the child and express the child’s wishes to the court.

In a divorce or other family law proceeding, an attorney ad litem may be appointed if there are issues of child custody and visitation at stake. The attorney will interview the child, review any relevant documents, and speak with the child’s parents, teachers, and any other important adults in the child’s life. The attorney will represent the child in court or in legal proceedings, express his or her wishes and advise the child on possible outcomes.