Today, as I prepare to step into court once again, I’m reminded of why I took this path, not just as an advocate, but as someone determined to make a difference where the system fails families the most.
I became a Volunteer Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for the state of Florida, not because I thought it would be easy, but because I saw firsthand what court-appointed family law GALs were doing to children and families. I saw the bias, the corruption, and the destruction they leave in their wake, all while claiming to act in “the best interests of the child.”
Family court should be about protecting children. But too often, it’s about profit, power, and legal maneuvering, where GALs, attorneys, and court-appointed professionals work together to manipulate cases rather than seeking real solutions for children and parents.
I couldn’t just sit by and watch it happen anymore.
So I decided to become part of the solution.
What Is a Volunteer Guardian ad Litem?
Unlike the attorney-driven GALs in family court cases, who are often paid exorbitant fees and hold unchecked power over custody cases, Volunteer Guardians ad Litem advocate for children in the dependency system, kids who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
These volunteers are not tied to the financial incentives that drive many family court GALs. Their sole job is to look out for the child’s well-being, ensuring they have a voice in legal proceedings and a chance at stability.
This is where real advocacy happens.
I know so many parents, especially alienated parents, who feel completely powerless in the face of family court corruption. I’ve been there too.
But the truth is, we don’t just have to sit around and complain, we can step up and do something about it.
Most states have volunteer Guardian ad Litem programs where everyday people, not attorneys, not judges, not court insiders, just regular people who care about children can, with training and of course an extensive background check, become a voice for those who need it most.
If you are tired of watching children suffer…
If you want to do something real to make a difference…
If you are willing to be the person you wish had stepped up in your case…
Look into becoming a volunteer Guardian ad Litem in your state.
It doesn’t fix everything.
It doesn’t erase the corruption overnight.
But it puts good people inside a system that desperately needs them.
I know that change doesn’t happen by waiting for someone else to fix it. It happens when we decide we are willing to fight for it.
So today, as I walk into court, I carry that mission with me. Not just for myself, not just for my fiancé and his daughter, but for every child and every parent who has been failed by this system.
And I hope that if you’ve been looking for a way to fight back, you’ll consider joining me. Because our children deserve better.
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