A Call for Uniformity in Law Guardian Practice

The current climate of earnest review of practices in the matrimonial field makes a revamping of the state's law guardian practice exquisitely timely. Some swear by the use of law guardians, while others may swear at it. The disparity in views can be attributed to the disparity in practices, from department to department, county to county, court to court, and case to case. There is disparity in the training of law guardians, and most unjustly, a disparity based on the parties' finances and ability to pay. To put it simply, any inconsistency in how 9-year-old Michael Byrne's lawyer in Buffalo works from how Mikhl Bernstein's lawyer in Brooklyn operates is an inconsistency waiting to be rectified, and some proposals therefore are offered herein.

27 minute read November 30, 2004 at 08:40 AM

By

Jo Ann Douglas