A Category "F" Investigator (GAL) is appointed by the Court to investigate facts in cases involving the care and custody of minor children. A GAL is often appointed in cases that raise questions about:
a child's best interests as related to custody and visitation;
removal from the Commonwealth;
changes in circumstances that warrant a modification of a judgment;
parental fitness to terminate parental rights or guardianship;
other matters that implicate the rights and interests of a minor child.
Mediation
Mediation is a process in which a neutral third-party acts as a facilitator to assist families in resolving a dispute. the role of the mediator is generally to facilitate communication between the parties and to assist them in focusing on the real issues of the dispute, instead of finger pointing and name-calling, and to generate viable options for settlement.
Mediation offers:
Efficient resolution of disputes
Reduced anxiety and emotional stress
Increased confidentiality and privacy
Reduced cost
Participant control over the results
Collaborative Law
Collaborative Law is a legal process enabling couples who have decided to separate or end their marriage to work with their lawyers and, on occasion, other family professionals in order to avoid the uncertain outcome of court and to achieve a settlement that best meets the specific needs of both parties and their children without the underlying threat of contested litigation. The voluntary process is initiated when the couple signs a contract (called the "participation agreement"), binding each other to the process and disqualifying their respective lawyer's right to represent either one in any future family related litigation.
Parent Coordinator
A Parent Coordinator can be a psychologist or a lawyer, as typically these professionals are experienced in dealing with high conflict families. A Parent Coordinator may be appointed to:
Assist the parties in resolving issues arising out of the custody order through consultation with and education of the parties.
If the parties cannot agree upon a resolution of their conflict, then the Parent Coordinator has the Court's authority to resolve a dispute by issuing a binding decision to the parties.
A Parent Coordinator works directly with the parties outside of the courtroom. In many cases, Parent Coordinators work with the clients through email, telephone or in-person conferences.
Parent Coordination is a new function in the area of Family Law, and one that is being welcomed by many judges, lawyers, therapists and families. It is a less expensive alternative than proceeding to the courthouse each time a minor dispute arises, and provides a quick result for the parties.
Limited Assistance Representation
Limited Assistance Representation is a way that an attorney can help you with part of your case while you do the rest of your case. Instead of paying a traditional retainer, you may contract with your attorney to pay them to work on your case for a limited amount of time. Once the services are complete, the attorney is no longer involved in your case. If you require further assistance, you may keep returning to the same attorney to help you again for a limited time period.
