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Does anyone else have experience with having a GAL assigned to their STBX?

Everyone has been telling me that this is a rare thing which "never happens", but a search of the WCCA site shows that this particular attorney has served as a GAL for principal parties in about three divorces per year for the past 20 years. It's one fifth of his entire case load!

A cursory search shows that a GAL is assigned to the wife FOUR TIMES AS OFTEN as to the husband, regardless of who is the petitioner/respondent. It also shows that only a select few attorneys are selected as GALs for the principals while most other attorneys never participate (in any role) in such a case during their entire career.

To my eye, this smacks of discrimination and "good ol' boy" business practices.

The children's GAL told me straight up that if a man had done what my STBX is doing, the case would have been closed a year ago. Men who act "disengaged" get no consideration (the court assumes, "no contest") but women get assigned a Guardian ad Litem to protect their interests.

So if any of you have experience in Wisconsin going through a case involving a GAL assigned to your ex, please contact me. I'd like to know what happened.

As far as I am aware, GAL are assigned for the kids to act as a lawyer for the kids best interests. Though one parent may request a GAL, the GAL is for the children not the parents.

collins3,

This GAL was assigned by the judge to the STBX. The kids already had a GAL.

It rides a fine line... because it's treating a person as though they're mentally handicapped without any real legal grounds for doing so.