Who is impacted?
Every year, thousands of children go through custody battles — but while their future is being decided, they are often the only ones in the courtroom without a voice of their own. Both parents have lawyers. The court has legal authority. But the child? They are expected to accept the outcome, even if it’s unsafe, unfair, or damaging. Many children are manipulated by one parent, silenced by fear, or hiding trauma — especially when the abuse is emotional, psychological, or hard to prove. Without their own legal advocate, these children are left exposed and unheard.

 
What is at stake?
If nothing changes, children will continue to be placed in harmful environments simply because no one listened closely enough. Judges will keep making decisions based on biased or incomplete accounts — and children will pay the lifelong price. But if we act, we can require that every child in a custody dispute be appointed an independent, trained professional — such as a Guardian ad Litem or child’s attorney — to investigate, listen, and advocate directly for the child’s well-being.
This doesn't mean putting a child on the witness stand or forcing them into the courtroom. It means assigning someone trained to speak with them privately, safely, and age-appropriately, so their voice is meaningfully included. And age should never be a barrier — even very young children deserve a professional advocate who can understand and represent their needs with care and skill.

 
What is a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), and why does it matter?
A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is a trained, court-appointed advocate whose sole job is to represent the best interests of the child during legal proceedings. GALs are not on either parent's side — their role is to investigate the child’s situation by interviewing the child, parents, teachers, doctors, and others who know the child’s life.
They then present a recommendation directly to the court, backed by evidence and firsthand insight, to help judges make better, safer decisions. A GAL helps uncover abuse that may otherwise be hidden, ensures the child’s true voice is considered, and provides stability in the chaos of legal conflict.

 
Why is now the time to act?
The silence of children in courtrooms is not just an oversight — it’s a failure of justice. As public awareness grows around children’s mental health, trauma, and the lasting impact of family court decisions, we can no longer delay. The system must change before more children are harmed by it.
We are calling on lawmakers and courts to pass legislation requiring legal representation or advocacy for all minors involved in custody or family court proceedings — regardless of age or circumstances. Children deserve more than to be treated as collateral in adult disputes.
They deserve to be heard — and protected.

 
This is not just a national issue — this is a global one.
Children across the world are being overlooked and harmed by family court systems that were not built with their voice in mind. This petition calls for worldwide awareness and change, because every child, no matter where they live, deserves safety, dignity, and representation.

Before you sign, we encourage you to take a few minutes to do your own research — explore how custody systems work where you live, and how children’s voices are handled in family court. Your signature is powerful when it's informed — and your voice helps amplify theirs.