Appointment of Guardians Ad Litem

The 1996 legislature made a number of changes regarding the appointment of guardians ad litem in Titles 11, 13 and 26. In general, those changes require that each court establish a registry of pre-approved guardians ad litem for each category of case. This document contains the Whatcom County Superior Court procedures adopted to implement those changes. The following is a summary of the procedures:

Guardianship Cases

RCW 11.88.090 (3)(a), alleged incapacity, guardians ad litem will be appointed from the registry of those individuals pre-approved to serve in such cases. Appointments are to be recorded in the order of appointment and referred to in order to ascertain the next-eligible individual to be appointed (PDF). Counsel and litigants may present fill-in-the-name orders appointing a GAL to the court. The named GAL may decline to accept a case, at which time the presenting party should submit a similar Amended Order Appointing Guardian ad Litem.

Juvenile Dependency Cases

RCW 13.34.100, juvenile dependency, guardians ad litem will continue to be appointed under the longstanding program of referral to pre-approved contract guardians ad litem, making referrals to the current contractors.

Domestic Relations Cases

RCW 26.12.175,domestic relations, guardians ad litem will be appointed from the registry of those individuals pre-approved to serve in such cases. In such domestic relations cases the parties may stipulate to the appointment of one of the pre-approved guardians ad litem, and are encouraged to do so. In the event that the parties are not able or willing to so stipulate, one of the parties must, in writing or via email, ask the Court Administrator/Commissioner to issue a strike list of the next three eligible domestic relations guardians ad litem. Each side may strike one of the three and the unstricken, or first unstricken, proposed guardian ad litem will be appointed. Counsel and litigants may present fill-in-the-name orders appointing a GAL to the court. The named GAL may decline to accept a case, at which time the presenting party should submit a similar Amended Order Appointing Guardian ad Litem or request a new strike list, as appropriate.

GAL/Court Visitor Fees

It is the parties' responsibility to pay guardians ad litem/court visitor in guardianship and domestic relations cases and the presumption is that the parties will equally share the cost of the guardian ad litem. 

The Court will determine indigency for guardianship cases. If an attorney privately represents any party, he or she is presumed to be able to pay a GAL/Court Visitor fee. That presumption is rebuttable upon appropriate declaration of the attorney or the party. Only if a party is found to be indigent and any presumption arising from the employment of counsel is rebutted will the county pay the guardian ad litem fee. 

All orders appointing GALs/Court Visitors should contain fee payment language. The Order Appointing Guardian ad Litem containing the court approved fee payment language may be downloaded (PDF). All requests for GAL appointments are to be referred to Superior Court Administrator Stephanie Kraft.