Wyoming Office of Guardian ad Litem
About Us
Empowering Youth and Families Through Legal Advocacy
Wyoming Office of Guardian ad Litem is a state and county funded agency that provides attorney guardian ad litem (GALs) for children in juvenile court. Attorney GAL's appointment is mandatory in all abuse/neglect juvenile court cases and discretionary in child in need of supervision and delinquency juvenile court cases. The agency also provides representation to children in termination of parental rights and appeal cases that arise out of the three types of cases listed before.
Director: Joseph Belcher
The attorney GAL's client is the child. Attorney GALs, in Wyoming, represent children in the hybrid model of representation where they represent both what the child wants and what is in the child's best interests, unless the child in a CHINS or delinquency proceeding has a direct attorney, then the attorney GAL represents only the child's best interests. The attorneys are required to meet with the children and their caregivers, conduct an independent investigation, work cooperatively with the juvenile court team, as well as zealously advocate for their clients. More information on the Agency's history, the attorneys we contract with/employ and what is required of each of the attorney GALs can be found on this site.