Getting a GAL was the wrong call.

iplay4Him · 2025-09-21T19:50:24+00:00

I know nothing of gal, but casa was incredible for us

IcyMycologist4837 · 2025-09-20T22:50:32+00:00

Use ChatGPT if you know how. I mean really be specific and feed it the information and reference statutes or ask it to research and file for you.

Signal-Dot2326 · 2025-09-18T06:09:17+00:00

I've heard good things and I've heard horror stories, my ex evidently thought GAL would be good for her pursuit to take my child away, they vehemently fought for one despite us having 50/50 temp orders but totally backfired when I met the GAL I said oh this is gonna be a piece of cake the way he held himself and spoke I KNEW my ex would gonna fight with him and sure as shit at one point he refused to talk to her because they got into a screaming match in mediation then her lawyer started yelling and then they all yelled at the judge and even after ALL of that she still got 50% parenting time

In one zoom hearing the judge said "ok you guys are muted for the rest of the hearing" I could see my ex sticking papers into her lawyers face, I'm like you guys really need the money this bad you'll be treated like shit from her.

The GAL and my lawyer met with me and did tell me I'd need a good 30k more and the GAL said he'd back my petition to change to majority parenting time but I had enough fighting after two years and already tapped the piggy bank and agreed to her settlement for 50/50 everything.

Upstairs-Pizza-1843 · 2025-09-17T23:27:56+00:00

GAL is such a scam. It's all a scam. Nobody cares about your children except you and their mom. Everyone else in the courtroom does not know your children, have never met your children (including GAL), don't know any other children who know them, and don't want to meet your children either even in an official capacity of being witnesses in the case (children are never allowed to testify in divorce cases).

Even so, these strangers who DGAF about your kids have been appointed by mom and dad to have 100% control over your kids' future by issuing orders they subjectively believe are in the "best interests of the children," whatever that means.

This is just one of the soul destroying dangers of getting a marriage license.

fewdo · 2025-09-17T22:37:19+00:00

You can only talk to your kid on the pedo app? Wtf?

Comfortable-Angle660 · 2025-09-17T21:55:55+00:00

Worked in my case, I got 100% legal custody of both children, with the youngest having 50% parenting time with the mother.

RevolutionaryLaw8854 · 2025-09-17T21:04:52+00:00

They are lawyers that have failed in practice and so the only clients they get are court appointed.

Lower quality than public defense attorneys

No_Pace2396 · 2025-09-17T20:56:14+00:00

GALs are usually appointed and carry tremendous power. Maybe one of the things that you should ask your lawyer when you’re choosing one is whether or not they will stand up to a guardian ad litem if they recommend that you don’t get 50-50 custody.

Reflog1791 · 2025-09-17T20:53:43+00:00

For the men saying the GAL was horrible. Did you suck up the the GAL? Seems that would work. Just curious. I did everything I could to stay the hell away from “family court”. Just paid off ex wife and used reverse psychology to get my preferred parenting plan.

NotYours25 · 2025-09-17T20:42:04+00:00

Now do parenting coordinator. The single biggest mistake I’ve ever made - consenting to her appointment.

StatisticianOld8246 · 2025-09-17T20:40:36+00:00

A GAL got my dad 100% custody in a time when that was absolutely unheard of

crzapy · 2025-09-17T20:25:05+00:00

Not everyone knows acronyms.

What's a GAL?

ApprehensiveSpare925 · 2025-09-17T20:22:41+00:00

My STBXW went for 100% and I went for, and got, 50/50. That is what the GAL recommended.

jimsmythee · 2025-09-17T20:21:52+00:00

A GAL is going to do two things;

Promote their own agenda, no matter what the individual circumstances are. Too man GAL's are pro-mother and that mother could be smoking meth and crashing cars and the GAL will say, "Kids need their mother more."
Spend all of your money. The GAL isn't free and whenever a court requires it? It's usually the spouse with the job and the money that ends up spending every last dime on the GAL.

Several-Eagle4141 · 2025-09-17T20:18:55+00:00

Men never win with a GAL

TerribleAmbassador69 · 2025-09-17T20:18:40+00:00

My GAL was “one of the best”. She sucked so bad. Didn’t do shit. I asked my attorney if we could dismiss her. Attorney said that wasn’t allowed and if it was it would look really bad on my part. Hiring the GAL is a top 5 worst decision I’ve ever made.

Title	Getting a GAL was the wrong call.
Author	123amytriptalone
Upvotes	13
Comments	28
Date	September 17, 2025 8:09 PM UTC (10 months ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/Divorce_Men
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/Divorce_Men/comments/1njnuc4/getting_a_gal_was_the_wrong_call/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/Divorce_Men/getting-a-gal-was-the-wrong-call.1562215 https://theredarchive.com/post/1562215

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