Child custody cases; Jud. Council of Va., et al., to evaluate representation by guardians ad litem.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what kind of support might be needed or how it will be provided.

Evaluating Guardians Ad Litem in Child Custody Cases

This bill requires Virginia's Judicial Council, State Bar, and Bar Association to form a work group that will study the ratio of qualified guardians ad litem to child custody cases and report their findings by November 30, 2026.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a work group made up of relevant stakeholders from Virginia's Judicial Council, State Bar, and Bar Association.
• The work group will study the ratio of qualified guardians ad litem to child custody cases in Virginia.
• The work group must report their findings and recommendations about additional support needed for guardians ad litem by November 30, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• Judicial Council of Virginia
• Virginia State Bar
• Virginia Bar Association

Terms To Know

Guardians Ad Litem

A person appointed by a court to represent the best interests of a child in legal matters.

Work Group

A team formed for a specific purpose, often to study an issue and make recommendations.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what kind of support might be needed or how it will be provided.
• It is unclear if the work group's findings will lead to changes in laws or policies.

Official Summary Text

Judicial Council of Virginia, Virginia State Bar, and Virginia Bar Association; work group to evaluate representation by guardians ad litem in child custody cases; report.
Directs the Judicial Council of Virginia, in conjunction with the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association, to convene a work group composed of relevant stakeholders to evaluate the ratio of cases involving the custody of a child to the number of reasonably available qualified guardians ad litem throughout the Commonwealth and to make recommendations relating to additional support that may be needed based on such ratios. The bill requires the work group to report such findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice by November 30, 2026.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct the Judicial Council of Virginia, Virginia State Bar, and Virginia Bar Association to convene a work group to evaluate representation by guardians ad litem in child custody cases; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Judicial Council of Virginia,
in conjunction with the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association, shall
convene a work group
composed of rele
vant stakeholders
to
study

the appointment of guardians ad litem in
cases

involving the custody of a child
.
The work group shall
evaluate and study the ratio of
the number of
reasonably available attorneys who are qualified to serve as guardians ad litem
in accordance with
§
16.1-266.1
of the Code of Virginia
to the number of cases
involving the custody of a child, including such cases where the court is
(i)
required by law to appoint a guardian ad litem and
(ii)
permitted
to appoint a guardian ad litem and exercises such discretion.

The work group shall
report its findin
gs
and recommendations
, including
the identification of particular jurisdictions
or other areas for which additional support relating to the
appointment of or representation by guardians ad litem in cases involving the custody of a child
may be required
,
to the Chair
s
of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice by
November 30,
2026
.