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

Guardian ad Litem in Juvenile and Domestic Court

Magistrate William Sieloff and Stacy Abrams Bandler, staff attorney for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) discussed the Role of the Guardian ad Litem in Juvenile and Domestic Court at the Franklin County Law Library's Brown Bag Lunch Series on Februrary 28, 2018.

On May 14, 2025, Franklin County Juvenile Court Magistrates Stephanie Gibson and Rosemarie Welch gave a CLE update on the role of the Guardian ad Litem.

Handouts

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

Video of May 14, 2025 CLE

Ohio Revised Code

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.

Rules of Court

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.

Franklin County Domestic Relations Court Local Rule 15
Guardian ad Litems
Franklin County Juvenile Court Rule 27
Guardian ad Litem

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.

Ohio Guardianship Law: Guardian ad Litem in Juvenile and Domestic Court