Illinois Supreme Court Strengthens Domestic Violence Training Requirements for Guardians ad Litem
New Rule 906 requirements will require additional training on intimate partner domestic abuse for attorneys appointed to serve as Guardians ad Litem in Illinois child custody cases, beginning July 1, 2027.
When parents separate or divorce, decisions about child custody, parenting time, and parental responsibilities can have lifelong consequences for children and their families. Those decisions become especially complicated when allegations of domestic violence arise.
The Illinois Supreme Court has amended Illinois Supreme Court Rule 906 to strengthen the domestic violence training required of attorneys serving as Guardians ad Litem (GALs) in child custody and other covered domestic relations proceedings.
Announced on October 21, 2026, the amendment reflects an important principle: professionals who help courts evaluate a child’s best interests need specialized knowledge to recognize domestic abuse, understand safety risks, and make informed recommendations.
The new requirement takes effect July 1, 2027.
What Is a Guardian ad Litem in an Illinois Custody Case?
A Guardian ad Litem is an attorney appointed by a court to investigate issues affecting a child’s best interests and provide information and recommendations to assist the judge.
In an Illinois family law case, a GAL may be asked to consider matters such as:
- Each parent’s relationship with the child.
- The child’s needs and family circumstances.
- The proposed allocation of parental responsibilities.
- Parenting time and arrangements for exchanges between parents.
- Allegations of domestic violence or other conduct that may affect the child’s safety.
- Whether additional information or services may help the court evaluate the family’s situation.
A GAL’s work can involve reviewing records, interviewing parents and other relevant individuals, and gathering information pertinent to the child’s circumstances. The precise scope of the appointment depends on the court’s order and applicable law.
Importantly, a GAL’s recommendation is not the same as a judge’s final decision. The judge remains responsible for deciding the issues before the court. Nevertheless, GAL recommendations can carry significant weight because they may help the judge understand complex family dynamics.
That is one reason specialized domestic violence training matters.
What Is Changing Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 906?
The amendment adds a specific continuing legal education requirement for attorneys who qualify for appointment as Guardians ad Litem.
Under the amended rule, an attorney must complete:
Four hours of approved continuing legal education in intimate partner domestic abuse during the two years before the attorney qualifies for appointment.
The training must be in approved courses addressing intimate partner domestic abuse. This is a qualification requirement for covered GAL appointments, rather than a general four-hour domestic violence training mandate for every Illinois attorney.
The amendment is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2027.
For attorneys who serve as GALs, the change means that domestic violence education will be an express part of the qualifications for appointment. For families involved in custody disputes, it represents a formal recognition that understanding domestic abuse is an important component of evaluating children’s best interests.
Why Is Domestic Violence Training Important in Child Custody Cases?
Domestic violence can affect a family in ways that are not always apparent from a single incident, police report, or courtroom appearance.
A meaningful assessment may require an understanding of patterns of behavior, power and control, threats, intimidation, and the ways abuse can continue after a relationship ends.
The Illinois Supreme Court’s announcement identifies several subjects that may be included in the required training.
1. Recognizing coercive control and patterns of abuse
Domestic abuse does not always involve physical injury. Coercive control may involve intimidation, threats, isolation, monitoring, financial control, or other conduct used to exert power over a partner.
Understanding these patterns can help a GAL evaluate allegations in context rather than considering each reported incident in isolation.
2. Understanding the effects on children
Children may be affected by domestic violence even when they are not the direct targets of abuse.
Witnessing violence, living with threats, or experiencing repeated conflict can affect a child’s emotional well-being and sense of security. Training can help GALs better understand these effects when evaluating family circumstances and potential parenting arrangements.
3. Understanding the experiences of survivors
A survivor’s behavior may not always match what an outside observer expects. Fear, financial dependence, concerns about retaliation, or the challenges of leaving an abusive relationship may influence how someone reports abuse or responds to a former partner.
Specialized education can help GALs evaluate information more thoughtfully and avoid relying on assumptions about how a person experiencing abuse should behave.
4. Recognizing that abuse may continue after separation
Ending a relationship does not necessarily end abusive behavior. In some cases, threats, harassment, intimidation, or controlling conduct continue after separation and may become connected to parenting exchanges, communication about children, or court proceedings.
Understanding post-separation abuse can be particularly important when evaluating proposed parenting plans and arrangements for contact between parents.
These topics are among the areas identified in the Supreme Court’s announcement as potential subjects for approved training. <Cite refs={[“turn428205search2”]}/>
How Could the New Rule Affect Parenting Time and Custody Decisions?
Illinois courts make decisions concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time under the applicable provisions of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, including the child’s best interests as the governing consideration.
Domestic violence can be relevant to those decisions. Depending on the facts, it may affect the court’s assessment of a parent’s conduct, the child’s safety, and whether particular parenting arrangements are appropriate.
A GAL with stronger training in domestic abuse may be better equipped to identify relevant information, recognize potential safety concerns, and provide a more informed recommendation.
For example, a custody dispute involving allegations of coercive control may require consideration of more than whether a particular physical incident occurred. The surrounding pattern of behavior, its impact on the child, and the risks associated with proposed parenting arrangements may also be relevant.
Likewise, when an order of protection is in place, a GAL may need to understand how its terms affect contact between the parties and what safety considerations may arise when parents exchange or communicate about their children.
The amendment does not predetermine the outcome of any custody case. It does not mean that every allegation of abuse will be substantiated, that a parent will automatically lose parenting time, or that a GAL’s recommendation will control the judge’s decision.
Instead, the goal is to ensure that attorneys appointed to these important roles have relevant training to help them evaluate the information before them.
What Does This Mean for Parents Involved in a Custody Dispute?
For parents navigating a divorce, separation, or allocation of parental responsibilities case, the amendment highlights the importance of presenting clear, relevant information about their child’s circumstances.
If domestic violence is an issue in your case, consider discussing the following with your attorney:
- Relevant documentation: Police reports, court orders, communications, photographs, and other records may be important, depending on the circumstances.
- The child’s safety: Explain specific concerns about the child, parenting exchanges, communication, or proposed arrangements.
- Existing orders of protection: Make sure your attorney understands any applicable orders and their terms.
- Patterns of behavior: Where relevant, explain the context and pattern of conduct rather than focusing only on isolated incidents.
- Appropriate resources: Ask whether professional evaluations, support services, or other reliable sources of information may be relevant to your case.
Parents should not assume that every document or allegation will be admissible or persuasive. Your attorney can help determine what information is legally relevant and how to present it appropriately.
If you believe you or your child are in immediate danger, contact emergency services. Legal proceedings should not delay efforts to address an urgent safety concern.
When Does the Amended Rule Take Effect?
The amendment to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 906 is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.
The four-hour training requirement applies to attorneys qualifying for appointment as GALs under the amended rule. The relevant training must fall within the two-year period before the attorney qualifies for appointment.
The Illinois Supreme Court has indicated that domestic violence courses will be available through the Illinois Judicial College, with additional courses forthcoming and offered free of charge. Attorneys seeking appointment should consult the official court resources for current course availability and qualification requirements. <Cite refs={[“turn428205search2″,”turn428205search4”]}/>
The full amendment and related court announcements are available through the Illinois Courts’ official Orders and Announcements page.
A Meaningful Step Toward Better-Informed Family Court Decisions
Custody cases involving domestic violence require careful attention to both the evidence and the safety of the people involved. Judges must make decisions based on the law and the facts, while children and parents may be living through some of the most difficult periods of their lives.
By strengthening the domestic violence training required of Guardians ad Litem, the Illinois Supreme Court is emphasizing the importance of informed recommendations in cases that can directly affect children’s safety, parenting time, and family stability.
The amendment does not eliminate the challenges of evaluating competing accounts or resolving difficult custody disputes. It does, however, establish a more specific training requirement for attorneys appointed to help courts navigate these issues.
For Illinois families, the broader takeaway is that domestic violence concerns deserve careful, informed consideration in family court—not assumptions, stereotypes, or a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you are involved in a divorce, custody dispute, or allocation of parental responsibilities case, understanding your rights and the legal process can help you make informed decisions about the next steps for your family.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every family law matter depends on its particular facts, and court rules and statutes may change.
If you have questions about a family law matter or need guidance about your legal options, contact the Law Office of Jonathan W. Cole P.C. at (708) 529-7794 Your Neighborhood Law Firm.
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