Guardian ad Litem Services

My role

I serve as a Title 26 Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in King County Superior Court and have been on the registry since 2019. I am appointed by the court to investigate and report on the best interests of the children. My duty is to the children, not to either parent. I give each parent a full opportunity to be heard, but my recommendations are based on the evidence and what it shows about the children’s needs. They may align more with one parent’s position, with neither, or fall somewhere in between.

Background

Since 1988, I have worked with complex cases in criminal, treatment, and family court settings. I began as a case manager in the Snohomish County felony TASC program, where I rose from case manager to program director. I later founded and ran a state-licensed outpatient treatment program for over 15 years, and I now operate another. I have worked in family law cases for more than 25 years. I have presented on substance use assessment and drug testing to the King County Bar Association’s Family Law Section, King County Family Court Services, and the Kitsap County Bar Association. I have a BA in Liberal Arts from The Evergreen State College and am a state-certified Substance Use Disorder Professional.

Experience relevant to GAL work

My experience includes:

  • Assessing and treating substance use disorders involving alcohol, cannabis, street drugs, and prescription medication misuse

  • Selecting drug-testing methods and interpreting results

  • Working with people experiencing mental health conditions ranging from mild anxiety to acute psychosis and suicidality

  • Addressing domestic violence and coercive control throughout my clinical work and my work in felony court, family court, and GAL investigations

  • Investigating concerns about emotional abuse of children and proposed parental relocations

  • Working with people with autism, ADHD, and chronic pain in clinical practice, as well as with children with autism in GAL investigations

  • Providing substance use services early in my career to an estimated 150–200 clients charged with or convicted of sexual offenses, primarily offenses against children

How I investigate

My role is investigative, not therapeutic. Every investigation includes:

  • Review of the Superior Court file

  • Interviews with parents, children, and other relevant sources

  • Consideration of competing accounts and contradictory evidence

  • Evaluation of patterns over time rather than isolated incidents

Depending on the issues in the case, I also review additional records, such as legal, medical, treatment, therapy, school, and/or CPS records.

Appointment, timing, and fees

My GAL fee is $150 per hour, with a $5,000 deposit to start. Although my hourly rate is modest, thorough investigations require substantial time, so total cost can be considerable. I accept cash, check, or Zelle. I do not accept credit cards.