guardian ad litem

noun

An individual (often a lawyer) appointed to represent the best interests of a child or incapacitated person for the purpose of a legal procedure.

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Meanings

nounguardian ad litem (plural guardians ad litem)

plural guardians ad litem

  1. lawAn individual (often a lawyer) appointed to represent the best interests of a child or incapacitated person for the purpose of a legal procedure.

    Guardians ad litem are the volunteer voices for children, investigating, reporting, going to court to advocate. It is not a job for sissies.

    2012 January 5, “Guardian ad litem: Sissies need not apply, only the good-hearted”, in Tampa Bay Times
Cite this entry
APA

guardian ad litem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guardian%20ad%20litem

MLA

“guardian ad litem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guardian%20ad%20litem. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “guardian ad litem,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guardian%20ad%20litem.

Source: guardian ad litem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.