Guardian ad Litem

N.C. Guardian ad Litem logo - A Child's Advocate in Court

Get Involved

Find a GAL Program

Find your local Guardian ad Litem program by county or district.

Volunteer for GAL

Be a voice for children in our community.

Volunteer as a GAL

Guardian ad Litem provides a unique volunteer opportunity for people with a sincere concern for the well-being of children.

Volunteer as an Attorney

GAL pro bono attorneys are vital appellate advocates for children.

What is a GAL?

A trained community volunteer paired with an attorney to advocate for the best interests of children in the community.

GAL Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about Guardian ad Litem (GAL) .

About

The North Carolina Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program equips community volunteers to serve abused and neglected children by advocating for their best interests in court.

Established by statute in 1983, the North Carolina General Assembly established the Office of Guardian ad Litem Services as a division of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Pursuant to G.S. 7B-601, when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court, the judge appoints a volunteer GAL advocate and an attorney advocate to provide team representation to the child. GAL child advocates are trained, supervised, and supported by Program Staff in each county of the state. A team of GAL attorney advocates, volunteers, and staff provide legal and best interests advocacy to North Carolina children who are alleged by a department of social services.

Learn more about the program

Guardian ad Litem Districts Map