Aileen Franco Lang

If you are a parent hoping for a fair and unbiased voice in court, I strongly urge you to reconsider if this GAL is assigned to your case. I came into this process ready to co-parent, with no criminal background, no history of abuse, and a close, loving bond with my son. Despite this, Aileen never on...ce contacted me directly, never visited my home, and never spoke with my son in my presence. Her entire report seemed to come from the mother’s side and ignored serious, documented concerns about my son’s well-being. She portrayed me in court as distant or uninvolved, while I was actively showing up—emotionally and physically—for my child. She failed to verify information, dismissed my input, and reduced my role as a father to a footnote. I was told she’s been doing this for 25 years. Honestly, that’s part of the problem. It felt like she had already made up her mind before even hearing me out. Her lack of effort caused irreversible damage to my relationship with my child. I don’t write this out of anger—I write this as a warning. If you’re a father walking into family court, understand that not all GALs are neutral. Some come with assumptions, and in my case, that bias cost me precious time I can never get back.