In New York state, courts will often appoint an attorney for the children of the litigants going through a custody dispute, whether in supreme court or family court. While the standard in custody matters is "best interest of the child," an attorney for the child typically must advocate for their client's wishes. The more competent and mature a child is, the more dispositive their position may be. Therefore, it is the role of the attorney for the child to speak with the child to understand the child's position and communicate that position to the court, even if the attorney disagrees with the position (however, there are limited exceptions to this rule). To learn more, contact our office.
