General FAQs

What can I expect at Bridges Legal Services?

Our entire goal is to keep you out of the court system while still reaching a desirable solution through holistic and alternative healing processes! Expect a casual and safe environment where you can speak openly and candidly about your situation and needs. We’ll guide you through a flexible and individualized path toward resolution where you will have better results and healthy outcomes.

Who do you serve?

Bridges Legal Services is a child-centered practice, seeking to serve and support children and their families as well as working with school districts and businesses!

What services do you not offer?

Bridges Legal Services does not provide legal representation in divorce or custody cases. However, mediation services for these situations are absolutely available!

Bridges Legal Services reserves the right to be selective about the cases taken or dismissed and services provided.

What sets Bridges Legal Services apart from other legal practices?

Bridges seeks to find holistic resolution outside of the court system! Working with Bridges Legal will save you time, money, and stress, which will certainly be greater when hiring a lawyer and proceeding through court. We take care of you and your situation in real-time at a fraction of the cost in a manner that supports all the individuals involved.

Guardian Ad Litem

What do they do?

While technically a licensed lawyer, a guardian ad litem does not act as the child’s legal representative. They are tasked with advocating for a resolution and outcome that is in the child's best interest rather than just representing a child’s wishes in the court proceedings as well as accompanying the child to court proceedings.

As stated in the Missouri Guardian Ad Litem Standards with Comments,
”The guardian ad litem shall provide not only factual information to the court but also shall diligently advocate a position in the best interests of the child.

The guardian ad litem shall be prepared to participate fully in any proceedings and not merely defer to the other parties. The guardian ad litem may examine, cross-examine, subpoena witnesses, and offer testimony.

The guardian ad litem when appropriate to represent the best interests of the child shall file petitions, motions, parenting plans, responses, or objections.”

When is a Guardian Ad Litem Appointed?

Children have a right for their voices to be heard and adequately advocated for in court proceedings.

However, children (minors) are unable to fulfill their own rights to this alone.

Guardians ad litem consider the whole picture: the child’s age, wishes, cognitive capability, physical, mental, and emotional needs, current environment, safety, long-term outcomes, and immediate needs.

Guardians ad litem ensure a child’s voice is heard while their best interest is advocated thoroughly.

When are they needed?

The court appoints a Guardian Ad Litem immediately when a child is placed in protective custody and by the first court proceeding in all other Family Law cases.

Examples may be cases involving:

• Divorce

• Paternity Testing

• Custody Disputes or Modifications

• Child Abuse and/or Neglect

Mediation

How can families benefit from mediation?

Families have it hard enough it is without involving the legal system. Attempting to settle disputes with a mediator can be a great first choice.

Mediation can benefit many different familial disagreements, including (but certainly not limited to):

• Separation or Divorce

• Custody Arrangements

• Child Support Obligations

• Elder Care

• Property Division

And many more! Let’s talk about how mediation may be the perfect choice for finding a solution to your family situation!

Can businesses or companies use mediation services?

Time and financial resources are extremely valuable in business ownership or employment. Mediation can help prevent an issue from entering the court system, avoid unnecessarily wasted time, energy, and money, and ensure everyone is happy with the resolution.

Common issues that mediation can benefit may be…

• Contractual Disputes

• Payment Disputes

• Employment Disputes

And many more! Mediation is a positive and beneficial first choice in handling points of contention in business deals or employment situations.

What does mediation look like in school systems?

Mediation in schools can be a great way for parents and the school to work toward positive experiences for the children involved. It can also be invaluable for adult students caught in strenuous situations with educational Institutions. The goal is always holistic conflict resolution.

The Missouri Department of Early and Secondary Education even recognizes mediation as a great option for settling disputes like:

• “May resolve disputes regarding the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or related services for students with disabilities

• Clarifies areas of agreement and disagreement

• Fosters better relationships between parents or adult students and responsible public agencies.”

Whether for your child’s education or your own, let’s talk about how we can work together to find a solution.