Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
California runs no statewide guardian ad litem board and issues no GAL license. A superior court judge appoints a GAL under Code of Civil Procedure 372, Probate Code 1003, or a family or juvenile statute. Attorney child's counsel also needs active State Bar status and Rule 5.242 training. Cost and timing belong to the county court. Confirm local fees and panel rules before you file.
What is the guardian ad litem board in California?
California has no statewide guardian ad litem board. No department issues a GAL license, sits a GAL exam, or keeps a public statewide roster you can join. Appointment is a court order from the superior court in the county where the case sits, usually under Code of Civil Procedure section 372.[1]
That fact surprises people who trained on a national script. Some states run volunteer GAL programs out of a central office. California runs appointments through trial courts, plus a separate volunteer CASA track in juvenile court. The phrase guardian ad litem board in California is a search query. It is not an agency name.
What you find instead is a stack of real offices with real paper. The Judicial Council of California writes the California Rules of Court and publishes the statewide forms, including CIV-010 for a civil GAL and FL-323 for child's counsel in family law.[5][6][13] The State Bar of California licenses lawyers. It does not license GALs.[8] Each county superior court controls calendars, local rules, and, in some counties, a minor's counsel panel.
If you need a phone number, you want the clerk of the superior court for that county. You do not want a Sacramento GAL bureau, because the line does not exist.
Do not confuse this with the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau. That bureau licenses professional fiduciaries under Business and Professions Code section 6530.[9] The statute makes it unlawful to hold yourself out as a professional fiduciary without that license. A one-case GAL under CCP 372 is not that job. I would not treat a fiduciary license as a GAL credential, and I would not treat a weekend GAL course as a fiduciary license either.
My honest take: if a website sells you a California GAL board registration, close the tab. Read the statute. Pull the form. Then read that county's local rule.
Do you need a license for guardian ad litem in California?
No. California issues no guardian ad litem license, and you do not apply to a GAL board. What you need depends on the seat you are trying to fill. A non-attorney can be appointed GAL for a minor in a civil case. An attorney appointed as counsel for a child needs an active State Bar license plus the education in Rule 5.242.[5][8]
Four different seats get lumped under GAL in casual talk. They are not the same paper path.
First, the classic civil GAL. Code of Civil Procedure 372 says a minor (or a person who lacks legal capacity to make decisions) appears by a guardian, a conservator of the estate, or a guardian ad litem appointed by the court.[1] Parents file CIV-010 all the time. That signed order is the credential. There is no separate occupational license.
Second, private counsel for a child in a custody or visitation case. Family Code 3150 lets the court appoint that counsel if it is in the child's best interest, and the court and counsel must follow Rules 5.240, 5.241, and 5.242.[3][5][10] Rule 5.242 requires an active State Bar member and at least 12 hours of education before the first appointment, then at least 8 hours each calendar year.[5]
Third, counsel for a child in juvenile dependency. Welfare and Institutions Code 317 is the appointment statute.[7] Competency sits in the juvenile rules, including Rule 5.660. That is a law license plus court competency, not a GAL card.
Fourth, a CASA volunteer. That person is screened and trained by a local CASA program that has to meet Rule 5.655.[12] CASA is not a state occupational license.
Business and Professions Code 6125 is blunt. It says: "No person shall practice law in California unless the person is an active licensee of the State Bar."[8] If the work you want is courtroom advocacy as a lawyer, get admitted. If the work is standing as the appointed representative of a minor party, the judge's order is what counts.
| Track | Who appoints | License? | Main paper | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil GAL for a minor | Superior court | No GAL license | CIV-010 | Case costs, not a GAL board fee |
| Family law child's counsel | Superior court | Active State Bar plus Rule 5.242 | FL-323 | Parties under Family Code 3153 |
| Dependency counsel | Juvenile court | Active State Bar plus juvenile competency rules | Court appointment | Court or county pay system |
| CASA volunteer | Juvenile court via CASA program | No occupational license | Program file plus court order | Volunteer (program funded) |
| Probate GAL | Probate department | No GAL license | Appointment under Probate Code 1003 | Estate or as the court orders |
I would not buy a GAL license packet that implies California will stamp you. Spend that money on State Bar dues if you are a lawyer, or on the court's actual training list if you want a panel seat.
Who actually appoints a guardian ad litem in California?
A judge of the superior court in the county where the case is pending appoints the GAL. Not a board. Not a bureau. The statutes name the court.
Code of Civil Procedure 372 states: "When a minor, a person who lacks legal capacity to make decisions, or a person for whom a conservator has been appointed is a party, that person shall appear either by a guardian or conservator of the estate or by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court in which the action or proceeding is pending, or by a judge thereof, in each case."[1]
Probate Code 1003 lets the probate court appoint a GAL when representation of a person's interest would otherwise be inadequate.[2] Family Code 3150 lets the court appoint private counsel for a child in a custody or visitation proceeding.[3] Welfare and Institutions Code 317 requires appointment of counsel for a child in a dependency case unless the court finds the child would not benefit.[7]
Notice the pattern. Every path runs through the trial court. The Judicial Council writes the rules those judges apply.[5][10] The county may keep a list of lawyers willing to take child's counsel cases. Getting on that list is a local application, not a state license file.
If your case is in Alameda, you deal with Alameda. If it is in Kern, you deal with Kern. California has 58 superior courts. They do not share one GAL intake desk.
I'd start with the named statute for your case type, then the statewide form, then that county's local family, probate, or juvenile rules. Skip anyone who says they can appoint you from outside the file.
What paper do you file to become a guardian ad litem?
For a civil case, the statewide form is CIV-010, Application and Order for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem, Civil, published by the Judicial Council.[6] You file it in the pending action. The judge signs the order portion. That signed order is the appointment.
For family law child's counsel, look at FL-323, Order Appointing Counsel for a Child, and the related family law rules.[13][10] Counties that run a minor's counsel panel will also have a local application, a resume demand, proof of the 12-hour class, and sometimes an interview. Confirm that packet with the family law clerk. I cannot honestly publish one statewide panel form, because there isn't one.
Probate GAL appointments under Probate Code 1003 are usually by petition or court motion in the probate file, not by CIV-010.[2] Read the local probate rules. Some departments want a declaration on why representation is inadequate. Some appoint on the court's own motion.
Do not file a probate guardianship petition if what you want is a GAL. Judicial Council form GC-210 starts a guardianship of the person or estate. That is a different case, with different duties, and it can last years. People mix these up constantly. A GAL is appointed inside an existing case to represent someone in that case. A guardian of the person is a fiduciary with custody-like authority under the Probate Code.
CASA paper is a program application plus a juvenile court appointment order. You do not self-file into a dependency case as CASA.
If you want a desk-side map of the common forms and rule numbers, GALPath sells a $149 one-time GAL Certification Kit at /start. It is a publisher kit. It is not an appointment, not a California license, and not a substitute for the county's own packet.
How much does guardian ad litem cost in California?
There is no statewide GAL fee schedule and no board invoice. Cost depends on the track, the county, and whether the court orders the parties to pay. Family Code 3153 says child's counsel gets "a reasonable sum for compensation and expenses, the amount of which shall be determined by the court," and that amount is paid by the parties in the proportions the court deems just, unless a party cannot pay.[4]
That is the controlling cost rule for family-law child's counsel. The judge picks the number. Rule 5.241 covers compensation mechanics for that counsel.[14] I will not invent an hourly rate for you. Counties publish panel rates when they have them. Those rates change. Confirm the current figure with that court.
Private counsel hired by a party (not appointed) bills at whatever that lawyer and client agree, subject to court review if the court is allocating fees. Market lawyer rates in California vary hard by county and by years of practice. Nobody keeps a clean public dataset of average GAL invoices that I would trust. The closest binding text is still Family Code 3153.[4]
Court filing is a separate bill. Government Code 70611 sets the uniform fee for filing the first paper in a civil action in superior court at $435, with listed exceptions.[11] A CIV-010 filed inside an already-open case is usually not a new first-paper filing, but clerks do assess local add-ons, and people get surprised by copy fees and e-filing charges. Confirm with the clerk before you write the check.
CASA volunteers are not paid by the parties as lawyers. The program is funded separately. You should not quote a CASA family a GAL invoice.
Dependency counsel is typically paid through the court or county appointed-counsel system, not by a parent writing a personal check to a GAL board.
What I would actually do: ask the clerk two questions. What is the current first-paper or motion fee if I am opening or appearing? Does this department have a written minor's counsel rate or a billed-fee procedure under Family Code 3153? Write down the date they answered. Rates move.
How long does guardian ad litem take in California?
There is no statewide processing clock for a GAL appointment, and nobody can honestly promise you a number of days. The court can appoint on the papers or at a hearing. In a simple civil case with CIV-010, appointment often happens at the first hearing where the judge sees the application.[6] It can also be signed on an ex parte calendar if that department allows it. Confirm the local ex parte rules. I will not give you a fake turnaround.
The work after appointment lasts as long as the case needs a representative. A civil GAL may stay in the file until judgment or until the minor turns 18 and the court relieves the GAL. Child's counsel in a custody case can last through a long parenting fight. Dependency counsel starts early. Welfare and Institutions Code 317 pushes the court to appoint counsel for the child, and that often happens at the detention hearing.[7]
Training time is more predictable than court time. Rule 5.242's 12-hour initial block is a real threshold you can calendar. The 8-hour annual block is a real threshold if you want to stay eligible.[5] CASA pre-service training is set by the local program under Rule 5.655, and many programs run several weeks of classes plus court observation.[12] Confirm the current class calendar with that program. Do not treat a self-paced national video as a CASA appointment.
If someone quotes you California GAL approval in 10 days, they are selling a myth. The state does not approve you. A judge does, on a case.
What training do California courts actually require?
For family-law child's counsel, Rule 5.242 is the rule that matters. It requires at least 12 hours of education and training before the first appointment, and at least 8 hours of continuing education each calendar year after that.[5] California Rule of Court 5.242 requires 12 hours of education before a first appointment as counsel for a child in a family law case.
The rule also expects an active State Bar license. A weekend seminar without bar status does not get you appointed as child's counsel.[5][8]
Juvenile dependency counsel has a separate competency scheme under the Welfare and Institutions Code and Rule 5.660. Do not assume the family-law 12-hour class automatically satisfies a juvenile panel. Ask the juvenile court administration.
CASA training is a program function under Rule 5.655.[12] I am not going to quote a single statewide hour count for CASA because programs layer Judicial Council requirements with national program standards and local court expectations. Call the program that serves that juvenile court.
A civil GAL who is a parent filing CIV-010 is not under Rule 5.242. The court can still reject a proposed GAL who has a conflict or who is unfit for that file. Training is not the usual gate. Conflicts are.
Would I pay for a national GAL certificate before I read Rule 5.242 and the county panel memo? No. That certificate will not appear on CIV-010. If I were a lawyer chasing a family panel, I would take a class that the local court or a California family-law organization actually recognizes for the 12 hours, then keep the completion record with my bar number on it.
How is a CASA volunteer different from a court GAL?
A CASA volunteer is not a licensed guardian ad litem and is not child's counsel. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is a juvenile-court volunteer program. The Judicial Council set program rules in Rule 5.655.[12] The volunteer is sworn and appointed in a dependency (or related juvenile) case to investigate and speak to the child's best interest. The child still usually has a lawyer under Welfare and Institutions Code 317.[7]
A CCP 372 GAL is the person through whom a minor appears as a party in a civil case.[1] That GAL can be a parent. That GAL can hire a lawyer for the minor. The GAL is not automatically the lawyer.
Child's counsel under Family Code 3150 is a lawyer with duties in the family law rules.[3][5] Different oath, different billing, different confidentiality problems.
If you want courtroom hours as an advocate without a law license, CASA is the path California actually built. It is slow on purpose (screening, training, a matching process). It does not travel with you as a private GAL business.
I'd pick CASA if I wanted volunteer work in dependency. I'd pick CIV-010 if my own child needed a representative in a civil file. I'd pick the State Bar plus Rule 5.242 if I wanted to be paid as minor's counsel. Mixing those three in one headline is how people get into unauthorized-practice trouble.
Compare that structure with states that brand a single volunteer GAL office. Guardian ad litem board in Arizona and guardian ad litem board in Colorado are useful contrasts if you are moving from another system.
Which California court rules control child's counsel?
Rules 5.240, 5.241, and 5.242 are the family-law trio. Family Code 3150 tells the court to comply with those three rules when it appoints private counsel for a child.[3][10][14][5]
Rule 5.240 covers appointment. Rule 5.241 covers compensation. Rule 5.242 covers qualifications, rights, and responsibilities, including the 12-hour and 8-hour education gates.[5] Read 5.242 before you email a family judge offering your services. The rule is more specific than any national blog post.
Juvenile cases use the Title 5 juvenile rules, including Rule 5.660 on attorneys for parties, on top of Welfare and Institutions Code 317.[7] Probate uses the probate rules and Probate Code 1003.[2] Civil procedure uses CCP 372 and the civil forms.[1][6]
Local rules then pile on. Los Angeles does not use the same minor's counsel memo as a small rural court. I will not pretend I can summarize 58 local rule sets here. Pull the local family, juvenile, or probate rules from that superior court's site the same day you pull the Judicial Council form.
If you are collecting other states' board pages for a move, guardian ad litem board in Illinois, guardian ad litem board in Connecticut, guardian ad litem board in Georgia, and guardian ad litem board in Hawaii show how differently states brand the same basic idea (a person appointed for a child). California's brand is the superior court, not a board.
What should you confirm with the county superior court?
Confirm four things in writing. An email to the clerk works. A downloaded local rule with the date you pulled it also works.
One, the form and any local cover sheet. CIV-010 and FL-323 are statewide, but departments add extra declarations.[6][13]
Two, the fee. Government Code 70611's $435 first-paper figure is the statutory baseline for many civil filings, not a promise that your clerk will charge that amount on a GAL application in an open case.[11] Ask.
Three, the panel or training proof. If you want repeat appointments as child's counsel, ask whether the court keeps a list, what 12-hour programs they accept under Rule 5.242, and how they want the 8-hour annual proof.[5]
Four, billing. Ask how that department applies Family Code 3153 and Rule 5.241.[4][14] Some courts want a noticed fee request. Some have a standing rate for panel counsel. Confirm. Do not rely on a number you saw on a forum in 2019.
Also confirm conflicts, insurance if they ask for it, and whether a proposed non-attorney GAL must appear in person. None of that is in a statewide GAL board manual, because there is no board.
Florida's GAL structure is a common comparison point for people who trained in a statewide program and then moved west. California will feel split across 58 courthouses. That is not a paperwork error. That is the design.
Can a non-attorney serve as guardian ad litem in California?
Yes, in the CCP 372 sense. The statute does not require the GAL to be a lawyer.[1] A parent or another adult often serves. The court has to appoint that person. You do not appoint yourself by taking a class.
Limits are real. Business and Professions Code 6125 still bars the unlicensed practice of law.[8] A non-attorney GAL does not get to examine witnesses as if they were counsel, file a lawyer's brief, or hold out as the child's lawyer. If the minor needs a lawyer, the GAL or the court gets the minor a lawyer.
The court can refuse a proposed GAL who has a conflict. A parent who is already a party with an adverse interest is the classic problem. The court can remove a GAL. The order is not a career license.
Non-attorneys who want a repeat, court-recognized volunteer role should look at CASA under Rule 5.655, not a homemade GAL practice.[12] Non-attorneys who want to be paid professional guardians or conservators for multiple unrelated people are in Professional Fiduciaries Bureau territory under Business and Professions Code 6530, which is a different license.[9]
I'd serve as a parent GAL on my own child's civil file if the court asked. I would not hang a shingle that says California Guardian ad Litem without a law license or a fiduciary license that actually matches the work. That shingle is how you get a nasty letter.
What would you actually do to get started in California?
I'd pick the seat first. Civil GAL on one case, family minor's counsel, dependency counsel, CASA, or professional fiduciary. Those are five jobs that share a nickname and almost no paper.
Then I'd download the statute and the form the same day. CCP 372 and CIV-010 for civil.[1][6] Family Code 3150 and Rules 5.240 to 5.242 plus FL-323 for child's counsel.[3][5][10][13] WIC 317 for dependency.[7] The CASA program application for volunteer work.[12] The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau materials only if I actually want that license.[9]
Then I'd call the superior court clerk and the family or juvenile administration, and I'd confirm fees, lists, and accepted training. I would not trust a national blog for a county rate. I would not trust a vendor who says the board meets on Tuesdays.
If I were a lawyer, I would calendar the 12 hours and the 8-hour annual requirement in Rule 5.242 before I asked a judge for work.[5] If I were not a lawyer, I would stay in the CIV-010 or CASA lane and I would keep BPC 6125 on a sticky note.[8]
GALPath is an independent publisher, not a law firm and not a service company. Use /start only if you want the kit as a form-and-rule checklist. Your appointing authority is still the superior court in the county of the case.
For a sense of how other states price this work, see Guardian ad litem cost in Alabama. California still will not give you one number.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for guardian ad litem in California?
No standalone GAL license exists. A civil GAL is appointed by the superior court, often on form CIV-010. Child's counsel in family law needs an active State Bar license plus Rule 5.242 training. CASA is a volunteer program, not an occupational license. Confirm the seat you want with that county court before you pay for any course.
How much does guardian ad litem cost in California?
There is no statewide GAL price. Family Code 3153 lets the judge set a reasonable sum for child's counsel, usually paid by the parties unless a party cannot pay. Government Code 70611 sets a $435 first-paper civil filing fee, with exceptions. Panel hourly rates are local. Confirm the current number with the clerk. Do not trust an old forum post.
How long does guardian ad litem take in California?
The state publishes no processing time. A judge can appoint on the papers or at a hearing, sometimes the same day the application is heard. The work then lasts as long as the case needs a representative. Rule 5.242's 12-hour class is a calendar you can control. Confirm local ex parte and hearing practice with that court. No one can guarantee timing.
Is there a California GAL exam or statewide roster?
No. California does not sit a GAL exam and does not keep a statewide GAL roster. Some superior courts keep a local minor's counsel panel for lawyers who meet Rule 5.242. CASA programs keep their own volunteer lists. Ask the county court or the local CASA program. A vendor roster is not an appointment.
Can a parent file as GAL on a child's civil case?
Often yes. Code of Civil Procedure 372 lets the court appoint a guardian ad litem so a minor can appear. Parents commonly use Judicial Council form CIV-010. The court can refuse a parent who has a conflict or is a party with an adverse interest. The parent GAL is not the child's lawyer unless that parent is actually admitted and appearing as counsel.
What is form CIV-010 used for?
CIV-010 is the Judicial Council Application and Order for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem in a civil case. You file it in the pending action. The judge signs the order. It is not a probate guardianship petition and it is not a family-law child's counsel order. Those use different paper, including FL-323 for child's counsel.
Does a CASA appointment make you a licensed GAL?
No. CASA volunteers are screened and trained by a local program under Rule 5.655 and appointed in juvenile court. That order does not create a statewide GAL license and does not let you hold out as a private GAL in civil or family cases. The child in a dependency case still usually has a lawyer under Welfare and Institutions Code 317.
Who pays child's counsel in a California custody case?
Family Code 3153 says appointed counsel receives a reasonable sum set by the court. The parties pay in the proportions the court finds just, unless a party cannot pay. Rule 5.241 covers compensation procedure. There is no statewide hourly rate on a GAL board schedule. Confirm the department's current billing practice before you accept an appointment.
Is a probate guardian the same as a guardian ad litem?
No. A GAL is appointed inside an existing case to represent someone in that case, including under CCP 372 or Probate Code 1003. A guardian of the person or estate is a fiduciary appointed in a guardianship case, often started on form GC-210. Different duties, different length, different paper. Do not file a guardianship petition if all you need is a GAL order.
Does the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau license GALs?
No. The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau licenses professional fiduciaries under Business and Professions Code 6530. That is for people who act as professional guardians, conservators, or similar fiduciaries as a business. A one-case GAL appointment is not that license. Do not treat a GAL course as a fiduciary license, or a fiduciary license as a GAL board card.
Can I advertise a California GAL practice without a law license?
Be careful. Business and Professions Code 6125 bars unlicensed practice of law. A non-attorney can serve if a judge appoints them as GAL on a specific case, but that is not a license to advertise courtroom advocacy or child's counsel services. Repeat paid fiduciary work can also trigger professional fiduciary licensing. Read both statutes before you print a business card.
How do I get on a minor's counsel panel?
Ask the family law administration of that superior court. There is no statewide panel. Typical local asks include active State Bar status, proof of the 12-hour Rule 5.242 class, a resume, and sometimes an interview. Annual 8-hour proof is required to stay eligible under the rule. Confirm the current packet. A national certificate alone will not get you listed.
Do online GAL certificates appoint me in California?
No. Only a superior court order appoints you, and only in that case. An online certificate is not CIV-010, not FL-323, and not a CASA appointment. If you are a lawyer, a class counts only if it actually satisfies Rule 5.242 and the local court accepts it. Confirm with the court. Do not pay anyone who claims they can register you with a California GAL board.
Which court do I contact about a California GAL?
Contact the superior court in the county where the case is pending. Civil GAL questions go to the civil clerk. Child's counsel questions go to family law administration. Dependency and CASA questions go to juvenile court or the local CASA program. Probate GAL questions go to the probate department. There is no statewide GAL board switchboard in Sacramento.
Sources
- California Code of Civil Procedure section 372: A minor or person who lacks legal capacity appears by a guardian, conservator of the estate, or a guardian ad litem appointed by the court in which the action is pending.
- California Probate Code section 1003: The probate court may appoint a guardian ad litem when representation of a person's interest would otherwise be inadequate.
- California Family Code section 3150: The court may appoint private counsel to represent a child in a custody or visitation proceeding if it is in the child's best interest, and must follow Rules 5.240, 5.241, and 5.242.
- California Family Code section 3153: Appointed child's counsel receives a reasonable sum for compensation and expenses determined by the court, paid by the parties unless a party is unable to pay.
- Judicial Council of California, California Rules of Court, Rule 5.242: Counsel appointed for a child in family law must meet Rule 5.242 qualifications, including at least 12 hours of education before a first appointment and at least 8 hours each calendar year.
- Judicial Council form CIV-010, Application and Order for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem, Civil: CIV-010 is the statewide civil form used to apply for and obtain a court order appointing a guardian ad litem.
- California Welfare and Institutions Code section 317: The juvenile court shall appoint counsel for a child who is not represented unless the court finds the child would not benefit from counsel.
- California Business and Professions Code section 6125: No person shall practice law in California unless the person is an active licensee of the State Bar.
- California Business and Professions Code section 6530: It is unlawful to act or hold oneself out as a professional fiduciary without a professional fiduciary license.
- Judicial Council of California, California Rules of Court, Rule 5.240: Rule 5.240 governs appointment of counsel to represent a child in family law proceedings.
- California Government Code section 70611: The uniform fee for filing the first paper in a civil action or proceeding in superior court is $435, subject to statutory exceptions.
- Judicial Council of California, California Rules of Court, Rule 5.655: Rule 5.655 sets program requirements for Court Appointed Special Advocate programs in California.
- Judicial Council form FL-323, Order Appointing Counsel for a Child: FL-323 is the statewide family law order form used when the court appoints counsel for a child.
- Judicial Council of California, California Rules of Court, Rule 5.241: Rule 5.241 governs compensation of counsel appointed to represent a child in family law proceedings.