Established by statute in 1983, the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program has been serving North Carolina’s abused and neglected children for more than 40 years.
Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute § 7B-601, when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court, the judge appoints a volunteer Guardian ad Litem (GAL) advocate, an Attorney Advocate, and GAL Staff to provide team representation to the child. A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) advocate is a trained community volunteer who is appointed, along with a Guardian ad Litem attorney, by a district court judge to investigate and determine the needs of abused and neglected children petitioned into the court system by the Department of Social Services.
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