Posted by Michael Geller | Nov 01, 2022 |
In San Francisco and elsewhere in California, minors generally do not testify in court or speak directly to the judge in child custody cases. As a result, California courts typically appoint a minor's counsel who will be tasked with interviewing the child about their concerns and whether they have a preference to live primarily with one parent or the other (if they're old enough to do so). The role of a minor's counsel is to advocate on behalf of a child. In addition, the minor's counsel acts as a fact finder since they learn about the child's best interests including the health, safety, and welfare of the child. The minor's counsel needs to be this voice without compromising the rights of the child, including the child's emotional well-being. Their primary role is to consider what is the best interest of the child while not being bound by emotions that typically accompany a contentious divorce case that include a custody dispute.