Attorney Colleen M. Hurley Certified as Guardian Ad Litem to Represent Children in Divorce Custody Cases
Colleen M. Hurley, attorney at Schaumburg-based Lavelle Law, was recently certified as a Guardian ad Litem and Child Representative in Cook County, Illinois. A Guardian ad Litem is an attorney appointed by a judge to investigate the best interests of a child in divorce or custody cases.
The process to become a GAL and Child Representative took roughly two years as Hurley had to complete training and three pro bono Child Rep cases through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services in the Domestic Relations Division in Cook County. Hurley earned her J.D. and Certificate in Family Law from DePaul University College of Law.
"Representation for children is a very important part of family law," said Lavelle Law Managing Partner Ted McGinn. "Children deserve the same unbiased representation as their parents and we're proud to help those children have a voice in divorce or custody cases through Colleen's commitment to this objective."
Hurley's desire to work with children began at an early age and was confirmed after interning at the Children's Advocacy Center in Champaign County while earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois. It was here that she saw a great need for advocacy for children in crisis.
"I went to law school with the goal of becoming a Guardian ad Litem," said Hurley. "I am grateful to the team at Lavelle Law, who have been so encouraging and supportive as I pursued that goal through my professional practice. I am honored and humbled to reach this point in my legal career and to represent children's interests in family law matters."
The process involves interviews with the child, the parents, teachers, family members, physicians and others, and concludes with written report submitted to the court with recommendations for the child, followed by testimony as to the investigation, in the Guardian ad Litem capacity. In the Child Representative capacity, the process involves similar investigation, but advocacy on behalf of the child's best interests through litigation.
For more information about Guardian ad Litem or Child Representative practice and Lavelle Law's Family Law practice, read Hurley's recent post https://www.lavellelaw.com/appointment-of-attorney-for-child-child-representative-and-guardian-ad-litem.
Lavelle Law's main office is in Schaumburg and maintains an additional office in the Chicago Loop. The firm was founded in 1989 as a single attorney practice with an emphasis on tax law. The firm has added more than a dozen practice groups including Estate Planning, Business Law, Banking Law, Litigation, Criminal, Immigration, Divorce and Family Law, Commercial and Residential Real Estate and Law Practice Consulting. The firm has received numerous awards and commendations for their business success, their commitment to ethics, national recognition for their pro bono services, and multiple acknowledgements of the charitable work they do in the local communities. For more information, visit www.lavellelaw.com or follow Lavelle Law on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.