Task force hears concerns about guardian ad litem fees, enforcement and access in Cook County

Anna Cholmonde, a senior domestic-division attorney with the Office of the Chief Judge, told the Cook County Domestic Violence Task Force that guardians ad litem (GALs), child representatives and attorneys for children are appointed under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and subject to local rule requirements and training standards.

"GALs are appointed to investigate the facts of a case and make recommendations in the child's best interest," Cholmonde said, describing distinctions in the statute between GALs, child reps and independent counsel for a child. She outlined the court-approved application cycles (January and September), annual training obligations and a mentorship program for newly approved practitioners.

Cholmonde presented county data showing that from 2023 to 2025 there were 62,224 cases eligible for a GAL or similar appointment and that only 3,484 appointment orders were entered during that period — about 5 percent of eligible cases. She described the fee framework set by statute, the courts' ability to set retainers and reduced rates in particular cases, and court partners that help place volunteer or sliding-scale counsel, including Chicago Volunteer Legal Services and OPG.

"Under the statute, GAL fees may be recovered as child-support-related obligations," Cholmonde said, noting how that classification affects collection and enforcement. She also explained the remedies available to litigants who disagree with an appointment or a GAL's work: filing a motion to discharge the court-appointed attorney, pursuing appellate review, or filing a complaint with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC).

Several commissioners pressed Cholmonde on financial burden and waiver rules. One commissioner cited federal poverty guidelines and asked how a family of four earning about $33,000 could be ineligible for a fee waiver when GAL costs can range from roughly $7,500 to $20,000, according to public comment. Cholmonde responded that fee limits and the classification of GAL fees are statutory matters and suggested legislative change or Illinois Supreme Court rule adjustments would be required to alter the current structure.

Public testimony raised sharper enforcement concerns. Joseph Jiloth, a retired sheriff's-office superintendent, told the task force that people have in fact been taken into custody on body-attachment orders tied to unpaid GAL fees and said paperwork and unclear orders can lead to enforcement actions that feel punitive rather than remedial. "They have been incarcerated and they've been there," Jiloth said, urging clearer orders and better cross-department coordination to avoid jailing people over debt-like obligations.

Cholmonde characterized body attachments as rare within the domestic relations division and said judges issue contempt-based enforcement only after extended efforts to collect and after reviewing financial disclosures; she described the process for a typical contempt/purge timeline and emphasized judicial caution in issuing attachments.

The task force asked for more data and continued discussion about where the current statutory and rule framework creates gaps between policy intent and courtroom outcomes. Commissioners urged the group to consider legislative outreach and to gather representatives from county and state legislative offices to explore changes to fee structures and waiver rules. The task force did not take a formal vote on policy changes at the meeting.

Next steps: task force members said they will consider convening a follow-up discussion with legislative liaisons and court administrators to examine statutory and procedural options, including clearer forms and better interagency coordination to reduce enforcement misinterpretation.