Domestic Violence for Guardians ad Litem 2025

  • OnDemand seminar
  • Children and the Law
Up to 7.0 Credit Hours
View schedule and faculty
Domestic Violence for Guardians ad Litem 2025

Accounting for abuse

Domestic violence is often hidden beneath the complexities of child custody disputes, making it crucial for guardians ad litem (GALs) to identify and address potential abuse. Even when signs are present, they aren’t always factored into custody or placement decisions. GALs play a vital role in ensuring children’s safety and well-being.

Attend Domestic Violence for Guardians ad Litem 2025 to deepen your understanding of how domestic abuse impacts custody cases and how to make sound recommendations with confidence.

8:30 am
Introduction to the revised Domestic Abuse Guidebook for WI GALs

Kelsey Mullins

  • Context: 2017 Domestic Abuse Guidebook for WI GALs
  • Study, Addressing Domestic Abuse in Family Court Cases Involving Guardians ad Litem in Wisconsin
  • Comparing the 2017 and 2025 Guidebooks
  • SAFeR Framework and Wisconsin-based research
  • Terminology: Domestic abuse vs. domestic violence; survivor vs. victim
8:50 am
SAFeR: Screen for Domestic Violence

Kari Niesen-LaScala & Kelsey Mullins

  • What is domestic violence?
      • o Behavioral definitions
      o Legal definitions, looking at the family code
10:05 am
BREAK
10:20 am
SAFeR: Assess the Nature and Context of Domestic Violence

Gricel Santiago-Rivera

  • Preconceived notions of what a “real” survivor looks like or how they act
  • Myths surrounding domestic violence
  • Cultural competence and beliefs, biases, and assumptions
  • Understanding context is critical
      • o Minor/isolated incidents
      o Resistive violence
      o Coercive control
  • Children’s experience of the abuse
      • o Looking at experiences by developmental stage
  • Parenting by victims
  • Parenting by abusers
11:20 am
Case Scenario
11:50 am
LUNCH
12:50 pm
SAFeR: Focus on the Effects of Domestic Violence

Christine R. H. Olsen

  • The law starts with a presumption of joint legal custody…
  • Rebuttable presumption against custody to abusive parent
  • Presumption that domestic abuse = inability to cooperate
  • Presumption against custody to abusive parent in cases of child abuse
  • Best interest of the child factors
  • Placement and safety as paramount concern
1:35 pm
SAFeR: Recommendations that Account for Domestic Violence

Meghan E. Healy

  • Priorities
  • Integrating your analysis
    • o Report
  • o Recommend
  • How each category of your recommendation can incorporate safety provisions
    o Custody
    o Placement
    o Child exchanges
    o Communication
  • Wisconsin law provides safety provisions
    o Exchanges
    o Supervised placement
    o Batterers treatment
  • Importance of specificity
  • Presenting recommendations to the court
2:20 pm
BREAK
2:35 pm
Case Scenario, continued
3:00 pm
Ethical Issues in Obtaining or Presenting the Best Interest of the Child
  • Obligation and responsibility when the GAL does not believe parent(s)’ desires are in best interest of child
  • Duty to control the process
  • Confidentiality concerns when a victim does not wish information such as health or medical records to be revealed to court
  • Does duty to protect best interest of child extend to duty to protect parent who is a victim?
  • Addressing nonspecific orders such as “reasonable notice” when there is known domestic abuse
  • Cultural competence: how beliefs, bias, and assumptions can negatively impact decision-making
3:50 pm
Program Concludes

Presenters

Meghan E. Healy
DiRenzo & Bomier, LLC · Neenah
Kari Niesen-LaScala
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin · Madison
Kelsey Mullins
Office of Court Operations · Madison
Christine R. H. Olsen
Olsen Law Office · Wausau
Gricel Santiago-Rivera
Santiago Family Law & Mediation Services · Madison

Sponsored by

Interested in sponsoring this program? Find out more.

  • Identify and implement the elements of the SAFeR approach for cases involving domestic abuse
  • Gain a deeper understanding of how domestic abuse affects custody cases
  • Determine if a parent poses a risk to their child’s safety and well-being
  • Learn practical strategies to identify and account for abuse
  • Understand how to incorporate findings of abuse into your final recommendations
  • Advance the best interests of children in vulnerable circumstances
  • Comply with Wisconsin statutory requirements to accept GAL appointments
  • Guardians ad litem for minors
  • Family law attorneys
  • Juvenile court attorneys
  • Probate attorneys
  • New attorneys looking to take GAL appointments
  • Experienced GALs seeking a refresher
  • Judges and court commissioners making custody and placement determinations
  • General practitioners

Book Bonus!

Family Law in Wisconsin: A Forms and Procedures Handbook
Save 15% on the Family Law in Wisconsin: A Forms and Procedures Handbook.* From initial client meetings to post-judgment matters, the Handbook provides a step-by-step guide to the procedures to follow in divorce actions. Use discount code CA3737 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/26. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.