Parents, advocates say guardians ad litem need more guardrails. These Washington reforms could help

More training and limiting the scope of investigations could improve how domestic violence and child abuse are handled in custody cases

By: Kelsey Turner

Outlets: InvestigateWest

Published: April 8, 2026

Words: 2,771

Last Updated: 3 months ago

Body Text Preview

In hundreds of custody disputes across Washington each year, judges appoint neutral court investigators to look into how parents’ issues like substance use, domestic violence and mental health could impact kids. But as a growing number of families and advocates raise concerns about how flawed investigations can flip cases against parents trying to protect their kids, legislators are beginning to look at reforms.

These guardians ad litem, also referred to as GALs, have no direct …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us