GAL – AMC – OMG! Demystifying the Role of a Guardian ad Litem or Attorney for the Minor Child Part One with Leading Attorney, Beth McCormack #190

In this special two-part episode, Susan Guthrie speaks with leading family law attorney Beth McCormack, who helps to demystify the roles of Guardian ad Litems and Attorneys for the Children in contested custody cases.

Divorce is hard enough but when parenting and custody issues are contested, things get much more complicated and crowded!  You will often find that you have more professionals appointed in your case such as a GAL or Attorney for the Child.  In fact, sometimes you may have both but what exactly do they do?  How do they help your children and how do you work with them?  Attorney Beth McCormack, one of the leading attorneys in the country who is often appointed by the court in the role of a GAL or AMC explains the reasons why the court may appoint these professionals in your case, what the important differences between the roles are and importantly, Beth preps you to help you get ready to work with the professionals in your case.  There is so much important information in this episode, we broke it into a special two-part series so that we could make sure you are ready for your GAL or AMC and that there is no need for OMG!

More Information About This Week's Special Guest: 

Beth F. McCormack focuses on highly complex family law matters with vast experience in complex litigation, as well as mediation and collaborative law. Beth also represents children, when appointed by the court, which makes her unparalleled in her ability to navigate complex parenting issues. Beth appreciates the sensitivity surrounding high net-worth, high-profile, and child-related matters, with each requiring a very different skill set.

Ms. McCormack’s practice is founded on compassion and empathy. She sees it as her responsibility to be aware of each person’s needs, seeking the most appropriate solution for each client.

Ms. McCormack’s vast family law experience enables her to handle and settle complex and sophisticated issues many families face. She is an unwavering advocate for the best interests of children, and easily navigates families through the highly emotional nature of any divorce. 

As one of the most influential attorneys in Chicago, Ms. McCormack has naturally become a mentor to many professionals in the legal community. Her peers consistently nominate her as a Best Lawyer, Super Lawyer, and Leading Lawyer. Most recently, Beth was named top 50 women Super Lawyers. Her work ethic and community involvement have earned her accolades within the legal community, and beyond.

Ms. McCormack has a monthly column in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, where she educates other lawyers on best practices and writes for many other publications as well. 

Follow Beth on Instagram at @bethfmccormack

Get in touch with Beth McCormack:

W: https://www.beermannlaw.com

E:  bfmccormack@beermannlaw.com

T:  312-621-9700

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Listen to Beth's prior episode on Divorce & Beyond:  Lessons From a Billion Dollar Divorce Attorney

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SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is a member of the Executive Council of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way® which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes. 

Internationally renownded as one of the leading experts in online mediation, Susan created her Learn to Mediate Online® program and has trained more than 18,000 professionals in how to transition their practice online.  Susan recently partnered with legal and mediation legend, Forrest "Woody" Mosten to create the Mosten Guthrie Academy which provides gold standard, fully online training for mediation and collaborative professionals at all stages of their career.  

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DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM