Guardians Ad Litem – What They Do and How to Get Appointed
Date: Oct 15, 2025 9:00 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
Location: Online
Member Price: $177.00
Non-Member Price: $209.00
Section Price: $0.00
Areas of Law: For All Attorneys
Earn up to 4 credits, including 1.2 in Ethics! (More Information)
Keynote
Moderator
- Hon. Margaret M. McVeigh, P.J.Ch. (Ret.)
- Of Counsel, DeMarco & DeMarcois Of Counsel to DeMarco & DeMarco in North Haledon, New Jersey. She formerly served as Presiding Judge, Chancery Division, General Equity Part, Passaic County vicinage, and sat in Paterson, New Jersey, where her responsibilities included the General Equity Part, Probate and Foreclosure. She has also served in Special Civil Part and the Family and Civil Divisions.
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge McVeigh had a diverse practice litigating in both state and federal courts. She has been Chair of the Conference of General Equity Judges and of the Special Committee to Study Guardianship Monitoring, and has served on the Judiciary Surrogates Liaison and Civil Practice Committees. Judge McVeigh has also served on the Supreme Court Committees on Alternate Dispute Resolution, Women in the Courts and Special Civil Part. A member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, she is a former Officer and Trustee of the Passaic County Bar Association.
Judge McVeigh is a founding member of the Robert Clifford American Inns of Court and has served on its Board of Directors. She was an Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University and is the recipient of ICLE’s Distinguished Service Award.
Judge McVeigh is a graduate of Mary Washington College and Seton Hall Law School.
(9/23)
Presenters
- Kristi Jasberg Robinson, Esq.
- Chief, Civil Practice Liaison, Administrative Office of the Courtsserves as Chief, Civil Practice Liaison, Civil Practice Division of the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts in Trenton, New Jersey. Her responsibilities include overseeing the New Jersey Judiciary Guardianship Monitoring Program and serving as AOC staff to several statewide Judiciary conferences and committees devoted to probate, chancery and civil litigation issues. Prior to joining the AOC in August 2011, she worked as an attorney in private practice and in her most recent role as a staff attorney at Dechert LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, managed large-scale electronic discovery review and production in mass torts and product liability matters.
Admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Ms. Robinson has been a member of the National and Mid-Atlantic Associations for Court Management. She has served as a panelist for continuing legal education courses on guardianship and other topics, and was a workgroup member and contributor to the National Association for Court Management’s 2013-2014 Adult Guardianship Guide.
Ms. Robinson received her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University and her J.D. from Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Board.
(9/23)
From the Family Part to the Civil Part to Chancery and Probate, this informative seminar covers everything you need to know about Guardians Ad Litem (GAL). A distinguished panel of judges and practitioners share real world scenarios to give context to the statutes, rules and case law that govern GALs. There are numerous situations where it is vital for a GAL to be appointed. Learn when, why, and how to request one in your cases. Once a GAL is appointed, whether you requested one or not, it is also important to know the best way to work with one to get the best outcome for your client. Additionally, being appointed as a GAL is a great way to expand your practice. Hear from the judges about how you can get on their list of go-to appointees and what you can do to stay there once appointed.
Topics include:
- Overview
- Statues
- Court Rules
- Rules of Professional Conduct - Recent Case Law
- In Re MR
- In Re CFC
- In Re the Adoption of a Child by C.J.
- T. vs. 1515 Broad Street, LLC - Discussion of Real-World Scenarios
- Family: matrimonial, domestic violence, and juvenile
- Probate
- Foreclosure
- Law Division
Don’t miss this unique seminar and register today!
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