Information for Courts and Tribunals

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) oversees Court and Tribunal ordered appointments.

Participating Courts and Tribunals must notify DCJ within 48 hours or earlier of an order for a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) appointment. DCJ is unable to act on a request for a GAL unless it comes from the Court (although legal representatives involved in proceedings where a Court ordered appointment has been made may still bring the matter to DCJ's attention).

A GAL appointment should be notified to DCJ by email at guardian-ad-litem-panel-co-ordinator@justice.nsw.gov.au.

The following details should be provided:

• name and contact details of the person for whom the Guardian ad Litem is appointed
  

• is the person a child/young person or adult and what their involvement is in the proceedings
  

• whether the person identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
  

• proceeding details, including proceeding number or child/young person's name if Children's Court proceedings
  

• the date of the NCAT/Children's Court order appointing a Guardian ad Litem
  

• the jurisdiction and Court/Tribunal location
  

• the date and time the matter is next listed and advise if it is a mention, directions or hearing etc
  

• whether there is a legal representative acting for the person. If yes, the address and contact details of the legal representative are to be provided; and
  

• any special circumstances or requests.
  

After DCJ has been notified of a Court/Tribunal ordered appointment, DCJ will assist with the appointment of a GAL to the person stated in the order. DCJ will notify the Registrar of the participating Court/Tribunal within 3 working days of the GAL appointment and provide letters of confirmation to both the Registrar and the GAL.

The services provided by DCJ are available to participating Courts and Tribunals. If you would like to become a participating Court or Tribunal, please contact DCJ by email at guardian-ad-litem-panel-co-ordinator@justice.nsw.gov.au.