A Washington Order Appointing Guardian Ad Item is a legal document used in the state of Washington to appoint a Guardian Ad Item (GAL) for a minor child. A Guardian Ad Item is a trained volunteer or professional appointed by the court to represent the best interests of the minor child involved in a family law dispute. The Washington Order Appointing Guardian Ad Item orders the GAL to conduct an independent investigation to determine the child's best interests, report to the court their findings, and make recommendations to the court. There are two types of Washington Orders Appointing Guardians Ad Item: Temporary Order Appointing Guardian Ad Item and Final Order Appointing Guardian Ad Item. A Temporary Order Appointing Guardian Ad Item is used to appoint a GAL for a limited period of time, typically until a final hearing can take place. A Final Order Appointing Guardian Ad Item is used to appoint a GAL for a longer period of time, typically until the court orders the GAL to end their investigation.