General Responsibilities of Guardians Ad Litem

In every juvenile delinquency court case in which a guardian ad litem is appointed, the guardian ad litem shall: (1) conduct an independent investigation to determine the facts relevant to the situation of the child and the family, which must include, unless specifically excluded by the court: reviewing relevant documents; meeting with and observing the child in the home setting and considering the child's wishes, as appropriate; and interviewing parents, caregivers, and others relevant to the case; (2) advocate for the child's best interests by participating in appropriate aspects of the case and advocating for appropriate community services when necessary; Published by the Revisor of Statutes under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.08, subdivision 1. JUVENILE COURT 124 MINNESOTA COURT RULES (3) maintain the confidentiality of information related to a case, with the exception of sharing information as permitted by law to promote cooperative solutions that are in the best interests of the child; (4) monitor the child's best interests throughout the judicial proceeding; and (5) present written reports on the child's best interests that include conclusions and recommendations and the facts upon which they are based. (Added effective for guardians ad litem appointed in Minnesota's juvenile and family courts after 12 o'clock midnight January 1, 2005.) 24.03 Guardian Ad Litem Not Counsel For Child When the court appoints a guardian ad litem, the guardian ad litem shall not be the child's counsel.