What to Say—and Not Say—During a Guardian ad Litem Interview
- Michael Capleone, Sr.
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) interview is your chance to speak directly about your child, your parenting, and your concerns. But what you say—and what you don’t say—can impact how the GAL reports to the court.
Start with the Child Keep your focus child-centered. Talk about your child’s needs, development, routines, and how you support their growth. Mention school performance, friendships, emotional milestones, and what brings your child joy.
Avoid Character Assassination Do not use this interview to destroy the other parent. GALs hear dozens of bitter custody stories and often tune out obvious bias. If there are real concerns, provide factual, specific, and unemotional examples. For example, “There have been times when our child was returned without medication,” is better than “She’s a negligent mother.”
Answer Honestly—but Thoughtfully You don’t need to share every detail or trauma. Be honest, but stay on topic. GALs are looking for consistency, not drama. Don’t guess or speculate. If you don’t know something, say, “I’m not sure, but I’m happy to find out.”
Avoid Common Mistakes
Don’t interrupt or talk over the GAL
Don’t say “My child told me they want to live with me”—that can seem manipulative
Don’t trash the other parent’s partner unless there's a legal or safety concern
Demonstrate Problem Solving Talk about your willingness to co-parent, follow court orders, and keep your child out of adult issues. Highlight efforts like counseling, routines, school meetings, or consistent visitation practices.
End on a Strong Note Close the interview by affirming your commitment to your child and your respect for the legal process. If allowed, provide written follow-up or evidence, such as school records or messages, only if they reinforce your stability and care.
The GAL isn’t just listening—they’re judging credibility, composure, and insight. Show them who you really are: a stable, mature, loving parent.
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About Michael Capleone, Attorney at Law
Michael Capleone is a seasoned family law attorney based in Hoover, Alabama, with over 22+ years of experience helping clients navigate complex legal challenges, including divorce, child custody, parental rights, grandparent’s rights, military divorces, petition for protection from abuse, CPS and DHR matters, father’s rights, mother’s rights, relationship advice, pets/ animal custody when a relationship or marriage ends, and general family law matters, co-parenting, dealing with a narcissist, emotional recovery, and much more! As a licensed practicing attorney since 2003, is a dedicated advocate for his clients, Michael understands the emotional and legal complexities of family law cases and works tirelessly to secure favorable outcomes in his law practice.
Whether you’re dealing with high-conflict custody battles, seeking modifications to child support or visitation, or facing difficult divorce proceedings, having problems with a toxic ex, trying to co-parent with a narcissist. Michael Capleone provides expert legal tips and topic specific information with wisdom and clarity. He is committed to ensuring that his clients’ rights are protected, and their voices are heard in the courtroom. These blogs and guides that he is creating are meant to provide simple, straightforward, helpful, and powerful practical information for people all across the United States of America and beyond.
These guides are written in a brief and concise way to get you powerful and useful information that you can easily print off in a reasonable small number of pages. Each guide is a concentrated, no-fluff resource — around 4-5 pages packed with professional insight, legal strategy, and emotional survival tactics. They are designed to cover the real pain points people face in courtrooms and custody fights: defending yourself against false accusations, exposing manipulation without looking petty, protecting your financial future, and keeping your relationship with your children strong in the middle of conflict.
For less than the cost of a single attorney consultation, you get targeted strategies built from over 22+ years of real-world family law experience. These aren’t generic blog articles or cookie-cutter templates. Every guide is designed to give you immediate, actionable steps — the same strategies I teach my own clients — adapted for real people dealing with real, high-stakes problems.
If you're serious about defending your rights, protecting your children, and staying one step ahead of a manipulative ex, these guides aren't just helpful — they're essential. They will save you time, reduce your stress, and help you make smarter moves when everything is on the line.
Winning in court isn’t just about having evidence. It’s about understanding the psychology, the patterns, and the legal strategies that judges actually respond to. These guides put that power in your hands. If you’re ready to stop reacting and start taking control, you’re exactly where you need to be!
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This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique—please consult with a qualified family law attorney licensed in your jurisdiction to discuss your specific situation. Also, this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, psychological, or professional advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship or any other professional-client relationship. The information provided is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, tax professional, psychologist, or other expert regarding your specific situation.
