What is a “GAL” in child custody cases?

BY: William R.F. Conners Managing Partner and Founder

In Virginia, a GAL (guardian ad litem) is an attorney appointed at the court’s discretion to represent the best interests of the child. The GAL represents the child and not either parent. The GAL can conduct investigations, including interviews with people close to the child. The GAL participates in trial and can make a recommendation to the judge as to what custody and visitation arrangement would be in the best interest of the child.

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"Will Connors is the best of the best. He represented me and was absolutely phenomenal. His legal acumen was head and shoulders above the opposing counsel and the judge took notice of how well he argued and quoted the legal jurisdiction. He is my attorney for life. He has a fire in him and takes your case personally as if it is his own."

— S. A.

"A top notch legal professional who is about as knowledgeable about family law as I’ve ever seen. Anywhere. He will take your case very seriously; he will sit with you to formulate the most effective legal strategy and he will be direct and honest about setting realistic expectations. If you have a challenging family law case and you are looking for the best family attorney you can get, Mr. Conners has certainly earned that title."

— N.

"I have had Will as an attorney several times for the past 13 years, as well as recommending him to friends in need of strong legal representation. Will and his associates are friendly, empathetic, honest and quite amazing at what they do. No matter the possibility of serious repercussions, having Will and his team on my side has always given me peace of mind; because I know I have the best of the best."

— J.H.

"I have been represented by this law firm for 2 years now and I have nothing but good things to say about it. I have been so pleased with how I have been treated not only by Will, but by everyone I have worked with at the firm. The communication is top notch, timely, and they make me feel valued and heard. I would very highly recommend this law firm to anyone looking for an attorney that is clear, to the point, and has your back!"

— J.S.

"Will represented me in a high conflict, contentious divorce / custody case that lasted several years due to multiple continuances. I would highly recommend him and his firm. Will is an excellent trial attorney, experienced with the local judges, and highly knowledgeable. I had difficult custody issues and Will’s recommendations were spot on and made a huge difference with the judge ultimately awarding me the majority of what I was seeking. Will is well respected in the legal community and I would not hesitate to use him again. When I was first starting the litigation process, I met with several local attorneys and am very thankful that I choose to go with Will and his firm."

— A.Y.

"I hired Will to represent me in an arduous divorce case knotted with a complicated financial scenario, and troublesome spousal support battle. Will and his staff’s unending commitment, and patience quickly sorted through my retired military and executive careers, disabled veteran entitlements, and the best interest of the children amidst an emotionally overbearing ex-spouse. My case rapidly spiraled from separation to divorce in under one year. His steadfast professionalism and goodness guided me through a toxic situation that protects both my finances and the children. I can’t thank Will and his staff enough."

— V.M

"Will Conners has been my lawyer for several years and has guided me through some difficult family law situations that occurred as a result of a divorce. His patience and ability to schedule and meet appointments and court appearances have been amazing. He was even able to formulate a plan to handle the final details of my case which is proving to be the best course of action. He has always been there for me when I needed him."

— D.A.

"Will is the kind of attorney every client hopes to find but rarely does. He remains unshaken even under extreme pressure and is highly respected in court. He is exceptionally competent and brings a level of skill and precision that immediately gives you confidence in his judgment. He listens and gives honest, accurate legal advice."

— A.M.

"Will has been a pleasure to work with during a difficult child custody battle. He has been almost always available, always on top of circumstances, provided very good counsel, quickly assimilated my issues without excessive dialogue and exhibited great flexibility under changing circumstances. While legal services don’t come cheap, his ability to quickly comprehend my issues probably netted a savings"

— J.A.

"I hired Will to represent me in a difficult divorce case. He did an absolute excellent job making sure my interests were looked after. It was a difficult time for me with an wife that had some personal issues. In the end Will made sure I did what needed to be done to protect myself but showed compassion for the woman I was divorcing without ever sacrificing my personal interests. I would employ his services again for any legal issues, which I hope there will be none, in a heartbeat!!! Rating would be 4.5"

— K.A.

"Will's competency level in handling our cases was above and beyond any other attorney’s I have seen. Will has an extremely keen eye for details and always puts the client’s interest on a priority level. In a nutshell, Will is THE attorney our family turns to when any need arises for legal advice or representation. I would highly recommend Will. In my humble opinion, he is the best!"

— A.H.

"Will handled my family law case in the 2009-2011 time frame, and was instrumental in helping me achieve a desired result – and avoiding costly litigation. He was very familiar with law specifically applicable to my case, and was highly familiar with the opposing counsels tactics & tendencies. Will managed my case efficiently and also helped me to do much of my own documentation (hence saving costs).He’s a highly ethical counselor, with excellent knowledge of applicable law to divorce cases, and provided me good guidance on my case. Highly recommend."

— J.C.

"He [Attorney William R.F. Conners] was always clear about what was realistic, and I never once felt misled or pressured. I knew he was doing what was right, not just what was convenient. When things got tough, he stood firmly beside me and fought for my rights with patience, strength, and compassion. I always felt protected knowing he was leading my case."

— A.M.

"How do you thank someone who took a very frustrating situation and turned it into success! Even after being threatened with a “Contempt of Court” citation my ex-husband stopped support payments. I was told I could garnish his social security payments but that led to one phone call after another to government offices and no solution. I finally found Will and he told me to stop worrying that he would take care of everything. He did just that by following through and taking my ex to court. After back-and-forth coversations I received all of my past due support payments plus attorney’s fees and court costs without going before a judge. There aren’t enough thanks or praise for such a dedicated and caring attorney."

— D.R.

"I came to see William R.F. Conners for a divorce and to work out custody issues for my 5 year old son. I was very impressed with my first and subsequent visits to see Mr. Conners. I always felt that kindness was a given, my case was given the attention and professionalism it deserved, with particular emphasis on the welfare of my son and the staff was always courteous and helpful. Mr. Conners worked very hard on my case and always returned my calls in a timely manner. I highly recommend William R.F. Conners to anyone who needs a lawyer who makes you feel like your case is the most important one that he has."

— C.O.

"My divorce featured all the most difficult aspects including a vindictive spouse willing to do and say anything to destroy me and exclude my role in our children’s lives. No matter how difficult the situation though, Will Conners provided devoted and professional representation. He took the time and interest to understand my dynamic and craft a strategy that unveiled my spouses’ false vendetta, preserved the relationship between me and my children and protected my financial interests. I count myself fortunate to have had Will as my attorney and wholeheartedly recommend him."

— P.B.

"A few of the initial things that impressed me about Will and his staff were their accessibility, promptness in responding to my requests and thorough explanation of the answers to my questions. I appreciated Will’s approach to giving me options and recommendations, and then he let me have a say in the decisions regarding the direction of my divorce case. Throughout the process, Will’s priorities remained focused on preparing my case to win in court if a fair settlement could not be reached and minimizing financial consequences without expensive legal posturing. "

— C.K.

"Their teamwork behind the scenes made a huge difference, and with their combined effort, we were able to achieve exceptional results. "

— A.M.

"Will is outstanding at Trial. Absolute Major League Professional. He controls the courtroom very well. Most of our Objections were sustained, the other sides were mostly overruled. It was 100% worth the cost just to be able to watch that performance."

— T.T.

"I was mired in a contentious divorce that had spiraled out of control through nightmarish claims that were chilling in their seriousness. While struggling to deal with the emotional turmoil of a marriage that was over, I was facing bleak options that realistically included losing my job, my children, and even my freedom. Through Mr. Conners’ skilled counsel I came through the nightmare with my family and my future intact – defeating the false charges, successfully resolving the marital dispute, and keeping custody of my children."

— D.G.

"William Conners represented me in my divorce which was complicated by the fact that my ex-wife and I owned several successful businesses together. I have used many attorneys in the past. Will’s performance was exemplary and many, many steps ahead in legal skill, strategy, preparation and sophistication. My goals were more than met (and then some) and I ended up with the businesses! I can wholeheartedly recommend him."

— D.R.

"Will came up with a great strategy, hired great experts, listened to what I wanted & why, course corrected when I needed it, a good steward of my money, he would keep conversations to the point to not "run the clock", Will & office were all Very Professional, No drama."

— T.T.

"Not knowing the first thing about hiring an attorney for an unexpected personal situation, a friend referred me to William Conners. From the very beginning, I felt very confident he would make sure that all negotiations and decisions made would benefit me and my daughter. Will has been very professional and caring and I cannot thank him enough."

— A.S.

"If you're looking for attorneys who are not only highly skilled but also honest, ethical, and genuinely invested in your well-being, this is the firm you want in your corner. "

— A.M.

"Ultimately, against some very difficult odds, Will & Shianne delivered exactly the result I wanted. As a father with a very young daughter. I was blown away. "

— T.T.

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