tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post3007734573341857271..comments2023-10-24T11:55:57.073-04:00Comments on Maine GALert: The Money pit that is Guardian ad litem fees and invoicesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00116455297447458871noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-31202677375184677152012-04-28T10:03:28.073-04:002012-04-28T10:03:28.073-04:00Judges may feel that they have more control over G...Judges may feel that they have more control over GALs than they would with Children's Protective. GALs are created by the Judicial Branch of government; children's protective workers are under the Administrative Branch of government. Children's protective workers are on salary paid for by the state; GALs in custody cases are paid for by YOU, but they work for the judge as his "eyes and ears". In other words, they are court informers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-47958755972942072862012-04-27T10:54:01.209-04:002012-04-27T10:54:01.209-04:00Children's Protective might not be willing to ...Children's Protective might not be willing to be court informers, the judge's eyes and ears!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-52917150415690333072012-04-26T14:45:25.032-04:002012-04-26T14:45:25.032-04:00What I now wonder about GALs is if there are conce...What I now wonder about GALs is if there are concerns about parenting, safety, abuse, etc, why doesn't the judge just call Maine Children's Protective, which can investigate the situation at NO cost.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-69296970530918747352012-04-19T22:18:33.125-04:002012-04-19T22:18:33.125-04:00Get your GAL into court and question him/her just ...Get your GAL into court and question him/her just like an expert witness. They are suppose to be able to justify whatever they write, however getting them in the court room may take a long time, especially if you are on a trailing docket, which seems to be normal for cases that involve GAL's. Keep a log book of phone calls, emails and things that happen on a day to day basis so you can refer back to them if you get into court. If you have a contract with your GAL, be specific on who pays what. If you are paying 80 percent and she is paying 20 percent, ensure that if the other party inundates the GAL with emails or other phone calls that they have to pay for their own emails and calls. Khow how the interviews will be conducted, in person or by phone. It is easy to play arm chair quarterback, but I lived this for two years and spent over 20K in GAL fees and 80 percent of those charges were for monitoring emails between his mother and I when we didn't have any PFA, Domestic Violence or Abuse ever in my case. We was not allowed to co-parent because they wanted to play big brother and monitor our communication. My GAL's were in it to make money and the best interests of my child were ignored repeatedly. His mother continues to be a prescription drug addict to this day and she has primary custody of my 4 year old child. This is not in the best interest of anyone. Ex parte communications. I call them secret squirrel meetings with the Judge, GAL and lawyers. This happened twice. My second GAL was handpicked by a Judge and that GAL lived 65 miles away from my child, this to made my fees an inordinate amount in travel fees.<br /><br />The system remains broken. Ensure that GAL's have oversight and that they are responsible for their actions like any other profession out there.LTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-55750269903154994312012-04-19T08:52:20.256-04:002012-04-19T08:52:20.256-04:00It is the shameless abuse that goes with any unpol...It is the shameless abuse that goes with any unpoliced monopoly. How dare you ask!? There is always the GAL wrapping his/her secrecy about billing practices in the favorite reply: "Not in the child's best interest!" Why? "Because we say so!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-68090758853428142892012-04-19T08:46:36.083-04:002012-04-19T08:46:36.083-04:00I wonder if part of the GAL's problem in ident...I wonder if part of the GAL's problem in identifying charges on invoices or bills is the uncomfortable issue of how does he/she bill for time spent in 'ex parte' communications with the judge? Er, ... I spent 5 hours giving the judge MY views on the case! Charge @ $100.00 per hour = $500.00 for corrupting judicial impartiality! Gotcha!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-6594907030265764592012-04-19T06:47:50.367-04:002012-04-19T06:47:50.367-04:00In just about every aspect of life when you buy so...In just about every aspect of life when you buy something you get with that item or service a bill that is itemized. The bill is broken down so that you can see what it is that you are paying for. It also means that you have the opportunity to question parts of the bill you don't understand. <br /><br />When you question a bill because you don't understand what it is that you are being asked to pay for, and you are given no answer, then there is a problem. It becomes a bigger issue when the court becomes involved and you are now told you have to pay. When that bill is forced down your throat. Would you be upset? I know I would.<br /><br />Some GAL's in the state of Maine currently produce bills that are unclear or do not make sense. Because of how a GAL conducts his/ her business there is ample opportunity for abuse. If you do not understand the GAL's bill or you don't get a bill on a regular basis then there is a problem.Matt Sullivannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-12186802510260478252012-04-18T10:18:16.102-04:002012-04-18T10:18:16.102-04:00The charges that you quote are way too low!The charges that you quote are way too low!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-1185603749703646432012-04-18T10:16:32.220-04:002012-04-18T10:16:32.220-04:00It is a license to steal!It is a license to steal!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-87892614500414202292012-04-17T08:10:56.756-04:002012-04-17T08:10:56.756-04:00Consumer protection from unfair GAL fees? Forget ...Consumer protection from unfair GAL fees? Forget it! It is an unfair "tax" on people getting a divorce.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com