Guardian ad Litem Practice in Family Court (Massachusetts)
Please Note: This course has already
been held.
Date: Tuesday, October 08, & 17 2002
Location: Union Station, 125 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA
Time: 11:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Schedule/Agenda
Registration Information
Unable to attend but are interested in the course materials?
Purchase Here! |
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As a Guardian ad Litem, you need to have an understanding of both the legal and psychological aspects of child custody and state intervention cases. The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Department has recognized the vast understanding needed to effectively serve as a Guardian ad Litem in these complex cases. As a result, the Court now requires GALs to complete a minimum of six hours of professional development each year.
This interdisciplinary program, presented by judges and prominent practitioners from the fields of law, psychology and social work provides both legal and clinical foundations for Guardian ad Litem practice in a range of matters, including domestic relations, child abuse and neglect. Attend and gain insight into the mechanics of the Guardian ad Litem appointment. Participants will have an opportunity to share practice tips. Complex issues such as high conflict families and Parenting Coordinators will also be discussed. These sessions will cover some of the difficult issues, which you face in your Guardian ad Litem practice. In its entirety, this comprehensive course satisfies the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Department’s professional development requirements for Category E, F & G.
| S C H E D U L E / A G E N D A |
| 11:30 |
Registration (Lunch Included) |
| |
| 11:45 |
Welcome & Introduction |
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| 12:00 |
Mechanics of the Guardian ad Litem Appointment |
- Different types of appointments and authority
- When should a lawyer, mental health professional or both be appointed?
- How has the court organized the different types of appointments?
- The investigation v. evaluation
William O’Riordan, Chief Probation Officer & Pamela Eldridge, Probation Officer
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| 12:30 |
Methodology of Guardian ad Litem Practice |
- The role/power of the Guardian ad Litem
- Review of the APA standards and other standards for child custody evaluations
- How to maintain your integrity and avoid complaints
- Strategies for data gathering and observations
Robert A. Zibbell, Ph.D.
|
| 1:30 |
Privacy and Confidentiality Issues |
| Recommendations vs. No Recommendations
Honorable Gail L. Perlman
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| 2:10 |
Domestic Violence |
- Legal aspects
- Psychological effects on children
- Video presentation – domestic violence
Valerie J. Botter, Esq. (LIVE) & Betsy McAlistor Groves, LICSW (VIDEO)
|
| 3:05 |
High Conflict Families |
- Memory issues
- Mental illness
- Substance abuse
- Child abuse
- Visitation refusal
- How to analyze the facts found in the investigation
Denise J. Gelinas, Ph.D., Margaret Kierstein, Ed.D., & Edward H. Plimpton, Ph.D.
|
| 11:30 |
Welcome and Introduction |
| |
| 11:40 |
Legal Standards |
- Legal custody
- Best interests
- Removal
- Change of circumstances
- Judicial Commentary
Linda S. Fidnick, Esq., Honorable Gail L. Perlman & Honorable David G. Sacks
|
| 12:40 |
Writing the Report |
- How to organize the information obtained
- Fact v. opinion
- Format
- Drawing conclusions & making recommendations
Margaret Kierstein, Ed.D.
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| 1:10 |
Lunch & Roundtable Discussion Re: Practice Tips, Report Writing and Evidentiary Issues |
| |
| 2:15 |
Direct and Cross Examination |
- Testimony at trial and deposition
- Video taped demonstration
Valerie J. Botter, Esq. (LIVE), Janice Bassil, Esq. (VIDEO) & Honorable Susan D. Ricci, (VIDEO)
|
| 2:45 |
Judicial Commentary |
Honorable Gail L. Perlman & Honorable David G. Sacks
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| 3:30 |
Issues Arising After Filing of the Report |
- Who has access to report?
- Third parties access to the report
- Post filing contact with the Guardian ad Litem
- What happens to the report after it is filed?
- Payment for testimony (trial and deposition)
Mary Lynn Carroll, Esq., First Assistant Register
|
| 3:45 |
The Role of the Parenting Coordinator |
- What is a Parenting Coordinator
- The Parenting Coordinator as arbitrator
- Definition of the role(s)
- Authority & appointment
Valerie J. Botter, Esq. & Margaret Kierstein, Ed.D.
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| Date: |
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Tuesday, October 08, & 17 2002 |
| Tuition: |
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$199; $149 for attorneys admitted to the bar since 1999 and other attorneys recently licensed. Tuition is $99 for a single session. Tuition includes lunch and the course book.
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| Walk-Ins: |
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Space is limited. Registrations at the door are welcome, but please register in advance to reserve a seat and your written course materials or call to confirm space availability.
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| Refunds: |
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Written requests for cancellations received via fax or email 24 hours prior to the program will be granted a refund, minus a $15.00 charge. If you cannot attend, you may send a substitute, otherwise you will receive the written course materials.
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| Location: |
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Union Station, 125 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA
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| Credit: |
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Approved for CLE credit in RI, NH, ME, VT & NY. This program, in its entirety, has been approved by the Probate and Family Court Department to satisfy the Category E, F & G continuing professional education requirements. This program also provides 4 CAFL credits per session. Please call 617-573-8627 to inquire about Social Work Continuing Education credits.
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Special
Needs: |
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If you have special needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, please notify us as soon as possible.
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Unable to attend but are interested in the course materials?
Purchase Here! |
|
|
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