The application to become a registered Guardian ad Litem in civil family law cases is now available.
Civil family law cases include, but are not limited to, custody and parenting time matters in dissolution of marriage cases and in paternity cases; minor (not adult) guardianship cases; third party custody actions in dissolution of marriage cases and in paternity cases; adoptions; grandparent visitation cases; and third-party visitation cases.
Please review the GAL Guidelines prior to completing your application to assist you in the process. Applications will be reviewed and approved or denied by the GAL Family Oversight Committee. Once this review process is completed, every applicant will receive a notification email from noreply@engage.in.gov. To ensure you receive these emails, please add this address to your approved sender list to prevent them from being directed to your Junk or Spam folders.
Please refrain from contacting us to check the status of your application unless 30 days have passed. Doing so will help us process applications more efficiently for everyone.
Criminal Background and CPS Checks
All applicants to the GAL Registry — both licensed attorneys and non-attorneys — are required to pass a Child Protection Services (CPS) history check. Non-attorneys will also be required to complete a criminal background check. Please note that applications to the registry will not be processed until the CPS history and/or criminal background checks have been completed.
Both CPS history and criminal background checks are initiated through our third-party vendor, SafeHiring Solutions. No other background checks will be accepted for the GAL Registry.
Shortly after you have submitted your application, you will receive an email from SafeHiring Solutions with instructions and links to obtain the background check and the CPS check. These emails are usually sent within a few business days but may take up to 30 business days in some instances.
Fees
The State Office of GAL/CASA will cover the cost of the CPS and/or criminal background checks for existing GALs (licensed attorneys in good standing and non-attorneys) who are already serving as a GAL until available funding is depleted. We encourage existing GALs to apply to the registry as soon as possible to take advantage of this limited funding.
New applicants (attorneys and non-attorneys) who have never served as a GAL will be responsible for paying the associated costs. More information about the background checks, including the cost, will be available when completing your order on the SafeHiring Solutions site. Individual costs may vary depending on the number of states that must be searched. You will have the option to see your estimated cost prior to placing an order.