Are a parent coordinator and guardian ad litem supposed to be working together in a family law case?
Asked in Indianapolis, IN on March 17, 2026 Last answered on April 21, 2026I’m fighting a custody battle, and a magistrate was fired off my case for unethical behavior: doing favors for the dad, and she hired a parent coordinator before she was removed, they both went to the same school. The PC working for Kids' Voice of Indiana has sided back and forth with mom and dad, but has never wrote the real stuff the dad has done to mom and daughter. She always includes mom, so he’s not held accountable. He and his girlfriend called DCS on mom, it was unsubstantiated. The daughter admitted to suicide attempts and thoughts because of dad and girlfriend, nobody has removed her from their care. They have put a GAL in place to determine custody, but she works in the law office with the PC also. I said it is conflict of interest. Nobody is doing anything. What do I do? Dad withheld my daughter, and the judge didn’t find him in contempt; it traumatized my daughter. The dad lets us talk 1 time a week, and the PC is aware of all of this, and when he withheld her, she didn’t say anything. Dad and girlfriend alienate us, and there’s proof in email and of how the GAL, PC, and dad all talk without me. Help!
1 answer
A Parenting Coordinator and a Guardian Ad Litem serve two different purposes in a family law case.
The Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) represents the best interest of the child, performs an investigation, and writes a report with recommendations as to custody and parenting time, among other items. The GAL is an advocate for the child but not either parent.
The Parenting Coordinator (PC) works with parents to communicate child-related issues but does not advocate for the child or either parent.
Depending on the orders appointing each person in your case, they could work together, but that is not the presumption. The PC communicates with parents to work out specific issues related to each parent's time with the child (think drop off and pick up or little league). The GAL speaks with each parent but does not coordinate specific parenting-time issues.
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