Editor's note: This article originally and inadvertently attributed the quoted GAL responsibilities to a NY rule. It has been updated to the correct NJ rule.

When parents end their marriage or relationship, joint children become a central focus of negotiations. A guardian ad litem (GAL) may be appointed by the court to oversee and provide recommendations considered to be in the "best interests of a child." The GAL's exact responsibilities will vary by the court order, but the most consistent responsibility is that a GAL will prepare a written report outlining the facts and provide the court with recommendation. By doing so, the interested parties can challenge the outlined facts, present evidence counter to what is presented in the report, and provide the court with information about new developments in the case that may have taken place between the submission deadline for the report and the court hearing. A full description of additional responsibilities that may be asked of a GAL can be found in N.J. Ct. R. 5:8B: