LibGuides: Child Welfare Law in Ohio: Guardian ad Litem in Juvenile and Domestic Court

Books at the Franklin County Law Library

Child Abuse and Neglect Cases : A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the System by Travis Cushman
Call Number: KF 9323 .C87
Publication Date: 2016
Children's Justice : How to Improve Legal Representation of Children in the Child Welfare System by Donald Duquette
Call Number: KF 3735 .D87
Publication Date: 2016
Practical Handbook for the Child's Attorney: Effectively Representing Children in Custody Cases by Melissa Kucinski
Call Number: KF 547 .K83
Publication Date: 2018
Representing the Child Client by Michael Dale
Call Number: KF 9779 .R46
Also available as an ebook for Central Ohio attorneys with a FCLL Library card.
Trial Advocacy for the Child Welfare Lawyer by Marvin Ventrell
Call Number: KF 8925 .C45 V46
Publication Date: 2017

Guardian ad Litems may be appointed in domestic and juvenile court custody and visitation cases:

Oh. Rev. Code Sec. 3109.04
Allocating parental rights and responsibilities for care of children, including provisions for shared parenting
Oh. Rev. Code Sec. 3109.051
Provisions for parenting time (visitation rights).
Oh. Rev. Code Sec. 2151.281
In many instances, a guardian ad litem must be appointed in abuse, neglect and dependency cases.
Oh. Rev. Code Sec. 3101.041
Guardian ad litem must be appointed for each 17 year old who desires to be married.
Oh. Rev. Code Sec. 3101.041
New version goes into effect 1/1/25

Oh Supreme Court Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio
Sup.R. 48 through 48.07 shall apply in all domestic relations and juvenile cases in the courts of common pleas where a court appoints a guardian ad litem to act in the best interest of a child.

Amendments to GAL DR Rule 15, JU Rule 27
Went into effect May 2021
Oh. Rule of Juvenile Procedure 4
Assistance of Counsel; Guardian Ad Litem. Every party shall have the right to be represented by counsel and every child, parent, custodian, or other person in loco parentis the right to appointed counsel if indigent.