Rule 25-62. Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem

(a) The judicial authority may appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor involved in any family matter. Unless the judicial authority orders that another person be appointed guardian ad litem, a family relations counselor shall be designated as guardian ad litem. The guardian ad litem is not required to be an attorney.

(b) With the exception of family relations counselors, no person may be appointed as guardian ad litem unless he or she:

(1) Is an attorney in good standing, licensed to practice law in the State of Connecticut by the Judicial Branch; or

(2) Is a mental health professional, licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and in good standing, in the areas of clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, psychology or psychiatry; or

(3) Is a mental health professional, licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and in good standing, in an area other than clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, psychology or psychiatry, who has been approved as eligible to serve as a guardian ad litem by the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters. Such approval may be requested by submitting an application containing the following information to the standing committee for its consideration:

(A) The area of mental health in which the applicant is licensed and in good standing;

(B) A statement as to whether the applicant's practice incorporates the topics of family dynamics, childhood development and adjustment, communicating with children, trauma, addiction, and domestic violence including a detailed description of the way in which these topics are incorporated;

(C) A statement that the applicant is otherwise in compliance with the remainder of this section in its entirety; and

(D) Any other information the applicant believes will assist the standing committee in making a fully informed decision regarding the request. The standing committee may contact the applicant to obtain clarification or further discuss the application. The standing committee shall review the application and provide a written decision to the applicant. The standing committee's decision will be based upon a majority vote and shall be final. The applicant may not request reconsideration or further review once the standing committee has issued its decision,

(4) Provides proof that he or she does not have a criminal record;

(5) Provides proof that he or she does not appear on the Department of Children and Families' central registry of child abuse and neglect;

(6) Completes a minimum of twenty hours of preservice training as determined by the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters;

(7) Meets any additional qualifications established by the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters; and

(8) Applies, provides proof of the foregoing items and is approved as eligible to serve as a guardian ad litem by the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters.

(c) The status of all individuals deemed eligible to be appointed as a guardian ad litem in family matters shall be reviewed by the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters every three years. To maintain eligibility, individuals must:

(1) Certify that they have completed twelve hours of relevant training within the past three years, three hours of which must be in ethics;

(2) Disclose any changes to their criminal history;

(3) Certify that they do not appear on the Department of Children and Families' central registry of child abuse and neglect; and

(4) Meet additional qualifications as determined by the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters.

(d) The judicial authority may order compensation for services rendered by a court-appointed guardian ad litem.

Committee Notes

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 484.) (Amended June 20, 2011, to take effect Jan. 1, 2012; amended June 24, 2016, to take effect Jan. 1, 2017; amended June 12, 2025, to take effect Jan. 1, 2026.) HISTORY—2026: What had been subdivision (b) (1) was split into two subdivisions by adding ''(2)'' after ''or,'' by capi- talizing ''Is'' before ''a mental health professional,'' and by adding ''or'' after ''psychiatry;.'' Additionally, what is now subdi- vision (b) (3) was added, and what had been subdivisions through (8), respectively. COMMENTARY—2026: The changes to this rule allow a mental health professional, licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and in good standing, in an area other than clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, psychology or psychiatry, to be appointed by the court as a guardian ad litem in family matters, if approved as eligible by the Standing Committee on Guard- ians Ad Litem and Attorneys for the Minor Child in Family Matters.