SB 501

Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia; guardians ad litem; mandatory appointment in custody or visitation cases involving a minor. Requires the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia (OES) to evaluate the current discretionary appointment of a guardian ad litem in cases where the custody or visitation of a minor child is at issue. The bill requires OES to make a recommendation as to whether the appointment of a guardian ad litem shall be mandatory in all such cases, and to consider the potential impacts of making such an appointment mandatory, including possible delays in hearings if there is not an adequate number of qualified attorneys capable of assuming such duties for the increased number of cases, and any fiscal impacts. The bill directs OES to submit its evaluation, including any observations and recommendations, to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2027.