Specialized Roles

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An ARC attorney is appointed by the court to provide legal representation to a child in a custody, visitation, or guardianship proceeding. Unlike a Guardian ad Litem, who investigates and makes recommendations, the ARC attorney acts as the child’s lawyer — advocating for what the child wants, rather than what others believe is in the child’s best interests.

ARC attorneys are generally appointed when a child is mature enough to express a clear and consistent preference, and when the judge believes that the child’s voice should be directly represented in the litigation. The ARC attorney may attend hearings, question witnesses, and file motions — just like an attorney for an adult party — but their ethical obligation is to the child alone. Their goal is to ensure the child’s perspective is heard and protected within the legal process, particularly in high-conflict or complex cases.

A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is appointed by the court to conduct an independent investigation and report back with findings and recommendations about what is in the best interests of the child. Unlike an ARC attorney, the GAL is not a legal advocate for the child, but rather a neutral fact-finder.

The GAL may interview both parents, the child, teachers, therapists, and other important figures in the child’s life. They often review school and medical records, observe parent-child interactions, and evaluate each party’s ability to provide a stable and supportive environment. After completing their investigation, the GAL submits a detailed report to the court with their recommendations, which may include custody arrangements, parenting time, and concerns related to mental health, substance use, or domestic violence.

The GAL’s goal is to provide the court with an informed, child-centered assessment to help the judge make decisions that prioritize the child’s long-term wellbeing.

A Professional Parenting Time Supervisor is a neutral third-party tasked with supervising visits between a parent and child when unsupervised contact may not be safe or appropriate. Supervised parenting time is often ordered in cases involving allegations of domestic violence, substance abuse, neglect, or where the child has been estranged from a parent.

The supervisor’s role is to ensure that visits are safe, structured, and child-focused. They observe interactions and may intervene if needed to redirect behavior or ensure compliance with the court order. While some professionals write observation notes or submit summaries, they are not investigators or therapists. Their primary goal is to facilitate safe contact between parent and child while minimizing emotional stress or risk to the child.

Supervised parenting time may be a temporary arrangement and is often a step toward rebuilding trust and transitioning to more independent parenting time if appropriate.