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Cook County Public Guardian outlines child‑rep role, fees and plans to accept guardian‑ad‑litem appointments
Summary
Sarah Hawkins, director of the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian’s Domestic Relations Division, told a task‑force working group the office serves as child representatives (not GALs) in many domestic relations cases, charges a $1,000 minimum retainer and $110/hour (with payment plans often arranged), and is preparing to take GAL appointments as staffing grows.
At a Cook County Violence Against Women Task Force working‑group meeting, Sarah Hawkins, director of the Domestic Relations Division of the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), described how the office represents children in domestic relations matters, explained differences between child representatives and guardians ad litem (GALs), and outlined fees, intake procedures and plans to begin accepting GAL appointments.
Hawkins said the Domestic Relations Division — in operation since 1988 — is appointed by domestic‑relations judges in parentage, divorce, relocation (moves over 25 miles), orders of protection transferred from domestic‑violence court, visitation disputes and third‑party/ grandparent visitation cases. “We get appointed on cases where there are issues regarding visitation,” she said, and the office also drafts allocation‑of‑parental‑responsibilities judgments that set parenting time and decision‑making authority.
Hawkins emphasized the legal distinction between the child representative and a GAL. “The role of the child representative is to investigate,” she said. Child…
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