LRGAL 2.1
                     GENERAL POLICY


Any individual desiring to serve as a Guardian ad Litem
(GAL) in any matter pertaining to Adoptions, Family Law
matters, Probates and Trusts, must be listed on the Guardian
ad Litem (GAL) Registry maintained by the Lewis County
Superior Court Administrator.  A separate registry shall
maintained by the Lewis County Juvenile Court Administrator
for Title 13 GALS and Volunteer GALS, the program administered
by the Juvenile Court.

The Court Administrator shall maintain and administer the
GAL registries as provided herein and shall maintain
application forms and background information records
pertaining to each person applying to be listed on Title 11
and 26 registries.  Persons listed on any registries shall
reapply and provide additional background information
annually by January 31.  All application and background
information, with the exception of personal identifying
information in family law cases and pending complaints shall
be available for public inspection.

Persons shall be selected to serve on each registry at the
discretion of the Court, giving due consideration to: (1)
having a sufficient number of GALS available to fulfill the
requests of litigants for appointments: (2) achieving and
maintaining diversity; and (3) retaining panels of persons
with substantial experience and special knowledge with each
given field.  In the event that more qualified applicants
apply than may be needed or would benefit any of the
separate programs, all applicants may not be selected for
the registry.

The Court shall periodically sponsor or approve training
programs which registry applicants shall be required to
attend to maintain and improve their level of proficiency.
Training programs may be cosponsored or offered by the State
or County Bar Associations under the oversight of the Court
or offered or sponsored by other counties under the
oversight of their courts.

Each registry may be constituted periodically after an open
application period has been publicly announced.  The Court
may allow additional applicants to be added to any registry
periodically.

The Court Administrator may impose an application processing
fee and may charge a fee for any and all training programs.


[Adopted September 1, 2002]