Family Law CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) serves as the voice of children in court when their parents are involved in contested paternity, divorce, and third party custody cases. We work to ensure a safe, nurturing environment for children in tough custody cases in King County. The children we serve are from low-to-moderate-income homes, and more than half are six years old or younger. Their cases often involve allegations of domestic violence, substance abuse and mental illness. Our mission is to advocate for children in some of King County's toughest custody cases so they have the best possible chance for a safer, more secure home life. We do this by utilizing community members who volunteer to become advocates. These special individuals thoroughly and objectively research the children’s family and home lives, then generate written reports to the court. These reports provide judges and commissioners with crucial information as they try to sort through allegations and decide on a custody arrangement that will be in the best interest of the child. Family Law CASA began taking cases in the summer of 2003. The organization is assigned to approximately 120 cases per year.