For parents fighting for their rightful time with their child, there is nothing more frustrating than watching history repeat itself, especially when a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is witnessing the interference firsthand.
A GAL is supposed to act as a neutral advocate for the child, ensuring that their best interests are prioritized. But what happens when the GAL sees a pattern of obstruction, manipulation, and scheduling conflicts, yet fails to take action?
Many parents in high-conflict custody cases find themselves in this exact situation. When a GAL witnesses the same repeated tactics used to interfere with parenting time and does not intervene, they become complicit in the alienation process.
A Pattern the GAL Cannot Ignore
A parent in a high-conflict custody case is often met with the same obstacles time and time again:
✅ Therapy sessions are scheduled, then suddenly a scheduling conflict arises.
✅ A child agrees to meet their parent, but at the last minute, they claim they forgot or weren’t told.
✅ Parenting time is arranged, then suddenly, a new obligation is introduced that takes priority.
✅ The child expresses excitement about seeing the parent, then after speaking with the other parent, they change their mind.
✅ A GAL is informed about this ongoing interference, yet they refuse to acknowledge or document it.
The most frustrating part? The GAL has seen it all before.
The same exact tactics used to block parenting time are now being used to undermine reunification therapy. It’s a deliberate cycle of delay, confusion, and control.
What the GAL Should Be Asking, But Isn’t
A Guardian Ad Litem is supposed to ask tough questions and uncover whether one parent is interfering in the child’s relationship with the other. Here are some red flags a GAL should be paying attention to:
🔴 Why does the child always have a conflict when it’s time to see the targeted parent?
🔴 Why do last-minute cancellations only happen when it involves reunification therapy or parenting time?
🔴 Why is the alienating parent not ensuring the child keeps these commitments?
🔴 Why is the child suddenly resistant to seeing the parent after previously agreeing?
🔴 Why does the targeted parent get blamed for problems they did not create?
Instead of investigating these clear signs of manipulation, many GALs choose to remain silent, allowing the cycle of alienation to continue unchecked.
Cross-Examination Questions for Court
If a GAL has witnessed repeated interference and failed to act, they must be held accountable on the stand.
Here are key questions to expose the GAL’s failure to protect the child’s relationship with the targeted parent:
1. Establishing the Pattern of Interference
• Have you observed a pattern of last-minute cancellations or scheduling conflicts regarding my parenting time?
• Are you aware that therapy sessions and visits have been disrupted on multiple occasions?
• How many times has my parenting time been canceled or rescheduled in the last year?
2. Holding the GAL Accountable for Their Role
• If a child consistently “forgets” about sessions or visits, who do you believe is responsible for ensuring they remember?
• Have you ever directly asked the custodial parent what steps they are taking to ensure our child follows through with visits and therapy?
• Have you taken any action to hold the custodial parent accountable for failing to ensure our child attends court-ordered therapy?
3. Exposing the GAL’s Bias or Negligence
• Have you ever documented in your reports that the custodial parent is failing to facilitate reunification?
• If you have seen this pattern multiple times, why have you not recommended consequences for the interfering parent?
• If I were the parent failing to facilitate visitation, would you treat it the same way?
• Is your role to advocate for what the child says in the moment, or what is in their long-term best interest?
• Have you made recommendations that actually move reunification forward, or just reinforced the delays?
4. Proving the Child’s Words Are Coached
• Have you noticed that our child’s reasoning for not attending therapy or visits changes depending on who they last spoke to?
• If the child was excited about seeing me one day, then suddenly resistant the next, wouldn’t that indicate outside influence?
• Do you believe a child in a high-conflict custody case is always capable of making fully independent decisions?
• If a child is told they can decide whether or not to attend therapy, but not whether or not to go to school, isn’t that an inconsistency?
What Happens Next?
If a GAL has seen the obstruction firsthand but refuses to act, they must be held accountable in court.
❌ If they allow repeated disruptions to therapy, they are enabling the alienating parent.
❌ If they fail to document clear patterns of interference, they are complicit.
❌ If they do not advocate for consequences when one parent is actively blocking reunification, they are failing the child.
Many GALs claim to act in the child’s best interest, but if they repeatedly witness a parent obstructing therapy, delaying visits, or manipulating the situation, and do nothing, they are directly contributing to the child’s emotional harm.
If you are in this situation, document everything and be prepared to expose this failure in court. A GAL who ignores a pattern of interference is not neutral, they are part of the problem.
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