Family Law Commons^™

Guarding The Guardians: Should Guardians Ad Litem Be Immune From Liability For Negligence?, Alberto Bernabe

Loyola University Chicago Law Journal

Illinois has a very comprehensive regulatory system for guardianships, which are recognized and regulated by several different statutes including the Illinois Probate Act and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Unfortunately, notwithstanding this comprehensive regulation, courts have struggled with the question of whether guardians ad litem should be immune from possible liability for injuries caused to their wards. Under the Marriage Act, an attorney appointed as a guardian ad litem is expected to perform duties on behalf of the court while the language of the Probate Act suggests that a guardian ad litem is appointed to represent the …