A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay of the November 2018 live seminar, Representation of Incapacitated Persons as a Guardian Ad Litem-2018 Qualifying Course.
To be appointed as a guardian ad litem for an incapacitated person in Virginia, members of the bar must meet the standards set forth by the Judicial Council of Virginia. This six-hour course meets the training requirement under these standards. All attorneys who wish to qualify for court appointment as GALs for incapacitated persons in Virginia must take this course.
In proceedings where a guardian and/or conservator are sought for an allegedly incapacitated person, the Circuit Court appoints a guardian ad litem (GAL). This course will qualify you to accept those appointments.
Topics to be covered include:
- What starts the whole process?
- How is a GAL appointed?
- What are your duties as a GAL?
- What community resources are there to assist you?
- How do you determine if a guardian and/or conservator is needed?
- Are there alternatives to a guardian/conservator?
- What are the duties of the guardian and conservator?
- What ethical rules apply to you as GAL?
For more information on becoming a GAL for incapacitated persons in Virginia, please contact the Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia, 100 North Ninth Street, Third Floor, Richmond, VA 23219 (804-786-6455) or visit this website: http://www.courts.state.va.us.
Please note this is the course necessary to become initially qualified as a GAL for incapacitated persons in Virginia. If you are already a qualified GAL for incapacitated persons in Virginia and are looking to take a GAL program to comply with your continuing education requirements (6 hours every two years), you may repeat this initial qualifying program only once within a six-year period. For example, you are certified as a GAL in 2020. You may retake this initial qualifying course for GAL credit again in 2022, but then would have to wait until 2028 to take this course again for GAL credit.