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Legal Information: Arkansas

Custody

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Updated: 
January 3, 2024

What does an attorney ad litem mean?

An attorney ad litem is an attorney appointed to represent the child’s best interest. The attorney ad litem is not there to represent either you or the other parent, but to try to represent what s/he thinks is in the child’s best interest. Attorneys ad litem have to meet certain guidelines and standards of practice for attorneys.

The judge can appoint an attorney ad litem whenever s/he thinks that it is in the best interest of the child and that the case will be better facilitated by appointing a private attorney to represent the child in a custody case.

Generally, both parents split the attorney ad litem’s fees and expenses.1

1 A.C.A. § 9-13-106

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