Opinion ID: 1060344
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Guardian Ad Litem Reports

Text: Mother claims that the trial court erred in granting custody to Grandparents without an evidentiary hearing and in reliance upon the written reports of the guardian ad litem. We conclude that the guardian ad litem’s reports were hearsay and that the trial court erred in relying upon the reports as the basis for its custody determination. Under the Tennessee Rules of Evidence, “hearsay” is defined as “a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” Tenn. R. Evid. 801. A guardian ad litem’s report constitutes hearsay under this definition. The report is an out-of-court statement made by the guardian ad litem that normally will be introduced for the truth of the statements contained in it. In this case, counsel objected to the hearsay nature of the written reports. We hold that the objection should have been sustained. -4- In lieu of the introduction of the written report, a guardian ad litem should testify at the trial or hearing and be subject to cross-examination. Not all of a guardian’s interviews and observations will be admissible. To be admissible, evidence must conform to the Tennessee Rules of Evidence. If the evidence is hearsay, it will not be admissible unless it falls within an exception to the hearsay rule. See Tenn. R. Evid. 802. For example, a guardian may testify concerning any admissions made by the parties. See Tenn. R. Evid. 803. However, a guardian may not testify as to statements made by witnesses who were interviewed in the course of the guardian’s investigation, unless the statement does not meet the definition of hearsay or a hearsay exception governs the testimony. If the substance of a non-party witness’ statements are sought to be introduced as evidence and those statements constitute hearsay, the witness must testify at trial. Although a guardian ad litem’s report is not admissible evidence, we hold that such a report may be reviewed by a trial court. To hold otherwise would effectively undermine the important role played by a guardian ad litem. A guardian ad litem’s report is a tool to be used by the parties and the court. The report may assist the parties by: 1) alerting the parties to the identity of potential witnesses who may be interviewed; 2) highlighting the testimony, both favorable and unfavorable, that may be presented at trial; and 3) providing a third party’s view of the facts of the case. In short, it assists the parties in preparing for an evidentiary hearing. The report also may assist the trial court by providing an overview of the evidence and by allowing the court to determine which of the issues are contested. At least one other jurisdiction supports a view similar to the one we adopt in this case. In Jorgensen v. Jorgensen, 231 N.W.2d 360, 363 (Neb. 1975), the Supreme Court of Nebraska reversed a lower court’s custody determination that was based on the report of a guardian ad litem rather than on the evidence in the record. The court stated that earlier cases had found that such reports are not evidence. See id. (citing Dier v. Dier, 4 N.W.2d 731 (Neb. 1942)). Due process required that witnesses, including a guardian ad litem, be subject to cross-examination. See id. In the present case, the trial court considered the guardian ad litem’s reports as evidence. No other evidence was presented, and the report was the sole basis for the court’s decision to grant Grandparents’ petition for immediate change of temporary custody. Because no admissible evidence was presented at the hearing, the trial court had no basis upon which to find a threat of substantial harm to the children’s welfare.5 We conclude that the court’s exclusive reliance on the reports of the guardian ad litem in granting Grandparents’ petition for immediate change of temporary custody was inappropriate. 5 In a contest between a parent and a non-parent, a parent cannot be deprived of the care and custody of a child unless there has been a finding of substantial harm to the child. See Bond v. McKenzie (In re Adoption of Female Child), 896 S.W.2d 546, 548 (Tenn. 1995). Due process requires that a non-parent seeking custody of a child must show substantial harm by clear and convincing evidence. See Hall v. Bookout, 87 S.W .3d 80, 86 (T enn. Ct. App. 2002); Stokes v. Arnold, 27 S .W .3d 5 16, 5 20 (Tenn. Ct. A pp. 2 000 ). Only after this showing is made may a court engage in a gene ral b est interest of the child ev aluation in making a d etermination o f custod y. See Bond , 896 S.W.2d at 548. -5-