ABSTRACT
The guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court to act for a child aged under 18 years, or an adult who needs such assistance. In cases under the Children Act 1989 (the ‘Children Act’), a guardian ad litem should be appointed in ‘specified family proceedings’ (see s 41(6) of the Children Act and 15.1.1 below) unless satisfied that it is not necessary to do so; and may be appointed in certain non-specified proceedings.
