About

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Cathy M. Brownson concentrates her practice in the area of guardian ad litem services.

An experienced and trained attorney guardian ad litem, Cathy serves the best interests of a child or alleged incapacitated adult in a variety of appointed court proceedings, including child custody, divorce, paternity, guardianships, and adoptions.

Since 2010, Cathy has served the Hamilton County Guardian Ad Litem Program as a guardian ad litem advocate.  In 2016, she was selected to serve as an attorney for the Hamilton County Guardian Ad Litem CASA Program. Cathy represents the Program and individual guardians ad litem in legal proceedings.

As a guardian ad litem, Cathy investigates, gathers and reports information to the court.  She is available to testify at trial. Cathy may make recommendations for issues such as custody, parenting time, relocation, and necessary services for the family. Cathy may be requested by counsel or mediators to consult in settlement between parties.

Cathy has utilized her years of experience to train, mentor and make presentations to other attorneys regarding the guardian ad litem role.  

• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL CHINS Program: Court Participation of a GAL in CHINS/TPR, January 30, 2024
• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL CHINS Program: Court Participation of a GAL in CHINS/TPR, June 9, 2022
• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL CHINS Program: Court Participation of a GAL in CHINS/TPR, January 26, 2022
• Hamilton County Guardian Ad Litem Program Attorney Training, CLE Presenter, December 20, 2021
• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL/CASA Program: Court Participation of a GAL in CHINS/TPR, June 23, 2021 and October 14, 2021  
• Presentation to Hamilton County Bar Association: When Your Case Needs a Guardian Ad Litem, October 22, 2020 
• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL CHINS Program: Court Participation of a GAL in CHINS/TPR, October 14, 2020  
• CLE Co-Presenter to Indiana Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Indiana AFCC) Annual Conference - "Ethics and Empathy in Child Interviews during Custody Disputes" - October 2, 2020
• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL CHINS Program: Court Participation of a GAL in CHINS/TPR, May 20, 2020
• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL CHINS Program: Court Participation of a GAL in CHINS/TPR, January 29, 2020
• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL CHINS Program: Court Participation of a GAL in CHINS/TPR, October 24, 2018
• Presentation to Hamilton County GAL/CASA Program - Initial GAL Training; Investigation and Interviewing for the Guardian Ad Litem in CHINS Matter, June 27, 2018
• Presentation to Fishers Newcomers Club, Fishers, IN, November 09, 2017
• AFCC Annual Conference, Ethical Issues for Parent Coordinators and Guardians ad Litem, September 29, 2017
• Hamilton County GAL/CASA Program Presentation to Prevail Staff, September 15, 2017
• Hamilton County GAL/CASA Training, Court Participation and Preparation for a Guardian Ad Litem in CHINS/TPR Matters, May 23, 2017
• Hamilton County GAL/CASA Training, Report Writing and Testimony of a Guardian Ad Litem in CHINS/TPR Matters, January 20, 2017
• Hamilton County GAL/CASA Training, Testimony of a Guardian Ad Litem in CHINS/TPR Matters, December, 2016
• Kids' Voice Guardian Ad Litem Attorney Training, Ethics for the Attorney Guardian Ad Litem, October, 2016
• Hamilton County Bar Association, The Role of the Guardian Ad Litem in Divorce and Paternity Matters, September 21, 2016
• Hamilton County Bar Association Bench/Bar Conference, Guardian Ad Litem Services, March, 2015
• Hamilton County Guardian Ad Litem Program Attorney Training, CLE Presenter, 2012-2019

• Indiana University Robert H, McKinney School of Law - Indianapolis, Indiana (J.D.)
• University of Iowa (B.S.)

• Indiana
• U.S. District Court for Northern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court for Southern District of Indiana

• Indiana Super Lawyers® 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025  (5 years selected to the Super Lawyers List)
• Indiana Super Lawyers® Rising Star 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Norman Lefstein Award of Excellence 2010

• Indiana Statewide Registry of Qualified Guardians Ad Litem January 2025 in.gov/courts/iocs/gal/registry
• Indiana Trained Attorney Guardian Ad Litem, 2010
• Registered Domestic Relations Mediator, Indiana
• Registered Civil Mediator, Indiana
• Collaborative Divorce Training, 2015
• National CASA/GAL Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, 2017
• Indiana State Bar Association
• Indianapolis Bar Association
• Hamilton County Bar Association
• Volunteer judge for Hamilton County Indiana Mock Trial Competition 2015 - 2019