Ad Litem Definition and Legal Meaning

adj. it is a latin phrase meaning “for the purpose of the legal action only.” It refers to a party appointed by a court to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party, who is deemed incapable of representing themselves. eg. a child or physically/mentally incapable adult need help of a third person not involved in lawsuit but to only serve as a “guardian ad litem”. When it comes to property litigation, the term is used for the person who may be appointed to act on behalf of an estate in court proceedings, when the estate’s proper representatives are unable or unwilling to act.