Guardian ad Litem Services by Jill Carnell
Clear-eyed advocacy in central & south central Indiana
Guardian ad Litem services centered on the best interests of children, grounded in objective investigation, accessible documentation, and Jill's training and experience practicing and coaching emotional regulation in herself and others.
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A Steady Presence in Complex Family Matters
Every family is different. Every case has multiple perspectives. The duty of the Guardian ad Litem remains constant: understand the full picture and advocate for the best interests of each child.
Jill Carnell brings her legal, coaching, and emotional regulation skills to every GAL appointment. This allows her to learn about each person in the family and gather and document information objectively while keeping the needs and best interests of the child(ren) at the center of the process.​
Guardian ad Litem
Services
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Child-centered GAL services for civil family law cases in Indiana
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Qualified and listed on the Indiana Guardian ad Litem Registry
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Reliable communication, investigation, documentation, reporting, and testimony when required
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Serving Brown, Hendricks, Johnson, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, and Putnam Counties
About the Process
1
Court appoints Jill
A judicial officer appoints Jill as GAL in the civil family law case, and she accepts the appointment. Next, she connects with the parties' attorneys (if represented) and sends a services agreement to the parties for review and signature. Then the parties pay their share of the fee retainer and complete the intake form.
2
Jill investigates
Jill reviews the intake form and has introductory phone calls with each party to start learning about the child(ren) involved in the case and the issues. At the end of the calls, home visits are scheduled. Jill also gathers and reviews records and interviews third parties to learn more about the child(ren) and family.
3
Jill reports to Court
Jill compiles the information from the investigation and makes recommendations in a report to the Court. The report is available only to the Court and parties, and nothing in it is shared with the child(ren) in the case. Once the Court issues an Order addressing the issues in the case, Jill is dismissed as GAL.
FAQ
What does “family law case” mean?
In Indiana, a family law case is a civil case that almost always involves at least one child (except in a divorce where the couple doesn’t have children). Family law cases include divorce or a child custody issue that arises after a divorce, paternity, adoption, grandparent visitation, guardianship of a minor, or third-party custody.
What’s a retainer and do you require one?
A: A retainer is a deposit for GAL services. A paid retainer of $1,750 is required before Jill begins working on a case.
Q: Will you split the bill between parties?
Yes, if the Court’s Order says that more than one party is responsible for paying for GAL services, the bill is split accordingly. The most common is 50/50.
Who is allowed to ask for a GAL in a family law case?
Any party in a family law case can file a petition asking the judge to appoint a GAL. The judge in a case may also appoint a GAL.
Where can I learn more about Indiana family law GALs?
Can a GAL promise confidentiality?
No. In Indiana, a GAL's file is available for review by any party or attorney who is involved in the case, absent a protective order.
What does Guardian ad Litem mean?
Guardian ad Litem is a Latin phrase meaning guardian for the lawsuit. The GAL’s authority is limited to the specific issues that are pending in the family law case.
How much does a GAL cost?
Jill’s current GAL rate is $175/hour.
Do you take credit cards?
Yes. Clients who pay by credit card pay the processing fee, which is 3%. Clients who pay by debit card or ACH do not pay a processing fee.
Do you take cases in counties other than Brown, Hendricks, Johnson, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, and Putnam?
Maybe, depending on current caseload. Jill lives in Morgan County, so she generally serves counties that are contiguous to Morgan.
I don’t have a lawyer, so if Jill’s the GAL in my case, can I ask her legal questions?
Although Jill is a licensed attorney in Indiana, when she’s a GAL in a case, she cannot give legal advice. She can answer non-legal questions about the case, such as when the next hearing is scheduled.
What do I do if I have a GAL question that isn’t on this list?
Reach out to us by email at hello@thought-kitchen.com.