Section 25-61A.Standing Committee on Guardians Ad Litem and Attorneys for the Minor Child in Family Matters

Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026

In one sentenceThis section creates the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child, sets its nine-member composition, and gives it charge of qualifications, training, removal and the annual eligibility list.

Full Text of Section 25-61A

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(a) There shall be a standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters. The membership shall consist of nine individuals, appointed by the chief court administrator. The members shall serve at the pleasure of the chief court administrator, and shall include:

(1) the chief public defender, or his or her designee;

(2) a mental health professional, with experience in the fields of child and family matters;

(3) the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, or his or her designee;

(4) an attorney in good standing, licensed to practice law in the State of Connecticut by the Judicial Branch, who focuses his or her practice in the area of family law, and who is not on the list of individuals qualified to be appointed as a guardian ad litem or an attorney for a minor child in a family matter;

(5) two judges of the Superior Court with experience presiding over family matters, one of whom shall be designated by the chief court administrator to serve as chairperson;

(6) two members of the public; and

(7) a representative of a nonprofit legal services organization who has experience in family law.

(b) In addition to any other powers and duties set forth in this chapter, the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters shall:

(1) From time to time, establish additional qualifications, not inconsistent with Sections 25-62 and 25-62A, for an individual to be deemed eligible to be appointed as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the minor child in family matters;

(2) Approve the curriculum for the training required by Sections 25-62 and 25-62A as amended;

(3) Establish and administer a process by which an individual may be removed from the list of those deemed eligible for appointment as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the minor child in family matters;

(4) Annually review and approve a list of individuals deemed eligible for appointment as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the minor child in family matters; and

(5) Adopt procedures to carry out its functions.

(c) The Office of Chief Public Defender shall collaborate with the standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters to:

(1) Administer the training of guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters;

(2) Promulgate and maintain an application for individuals to be deemed eligible to be appointed as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the minor child in family matters; and

(3) Provide a list of qualified individuals to be eligible for appointment as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the minor child to the Judicial Branch at least once per year.

(d) The Office of Chief Public Defender may promulgate and maintain an additional application process for eligible individuals wishing to contract with the Office of Chief Public Defender to serve as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the minor child at state rates.

End

Amendment History

(Adopted June 24, 2016, to take effect Jan. 1, 2017.)

Plain-English Summary

Who sits on it. The committee has nine members appointed by, and serving at the pleasure of, the chief court administrator: the chief public defender or a designee; a mental health professional experienced in child and family matters; the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or a designee; a family lawyer in good standing who is not on the eligibility list; two Superior Court judges experienced in family matters, one designated as chairperson; two members of the public; and a representative of a nonprofit legal services organisation experienced in family law.

Two choices in that list are worth noticing. The lawyer member is deliberately someone who cannot be appointed as a guardian ad litem, and two seats go to members of the public — a committee that regulates a role parents complain about is not composed only of the people who fill it.

What it does. The committee establishes additional qualifications, consistent with Sections 25-62 and 25-62A, for eligibility; approves the curriculum for the required training; establishes and administers a process for removing someone from the eligibility list; annually reviews and approves the list of those eligible for appointment; and adopts procedures for its own functions.

The Office of Chief Public Defender collaborates with the committee to administer the training, to promulgate and maintain the application for eligibility, and to provide the Judicial Branch with a list of qualified individuals at least once per year. It may also maintain a separate application process for those wishing to contract with it to serve at state rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who oversees guardians ad litem in Connecticut family cases?

The standing committee on guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor child in family matters, whose members are appointed by the chief court administrator.

What does the standing committee do?

It establishes additional qualifications, approves the training curriculum, administers a removal process, annually reviews and approves the list of individuals eligible for appointment, and adopts procedures to carry out its functions.

How does someone get on the eligibility list?

By applying through the process the Office of Chief Public Defender maintains in collaboration with the standing committee, which provides the list of qualified individuals to the Judicial Branch at least once per year.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 25-61A). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. · Official source

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