When a child is taken into protective services and is placed into foster care the kid is often assigned a case-worker, therapist, and a lawyer. The lawyer is called a "Guardian Ad Litem" (GAL) and is assigned to look out for the best interests of the child. While this lawyer is the child's representation, he or she doesn't necessarily represent the child's wishes when the wishes fly against what is safe for the child.

When a parent is in the process of adopting a child from the foster system, this lawyer is the child's representation, not the representation of the adoptive parent. Normally both the GAL and the foster parent have the same agenda, but if for whatever reason the GAL does think that it is in the child's best interest to go back to the bio parents, that is what he or she will tell the judge during hearings.

When my wife and I adopted, we only actually met the GAL a couple of times prior to finalization. Our child's previous foster family had met with the GAL a couple of times as well. However, as I understand it, the GAL and our kid's caseworker were in pretty close communication.

If you are in a Foster-Adopt (Legal Risk) adoption situation, it is well worth your time to become very well acquainted with your foster-child's GAL. The more of your child's resources (case worker, GAL, and therapist) that know you and your home--the better they can advocate on the child's behalf (and yours) in court.