What Is a Guardianship?
A guardianship may be required to protect the safety and well-being of a minor child when the parent or parents are not able to provide for the child adequately. Often, a family member, such as a grandparent, will step in to care for the child when the parent is unable or unwilling to do so.
A guardianship provides the caregiver with the rights and authority to make necessary decisions about education, healthcare, and other matters that would ordinarily be the parents’ choices. Sometimes, a guardianship is established on an emergency basis to grant custody to the guardian and protect a child from immediate harm. Other times, it can be a mutual decision between the guardian and a parent facing incarceration or extended health issues. Guardianships require good cause and the approval of the court.
It’s important to have experienced counsel to guide the potential guardian through the legal process.
For a grandparent or other relative who is actively caring for a child whose parent is not able, a guardianship provides structure and authority to ensure the parent does not remove the child from a settled home, and it allows the guardian to provide health insurance and direction to schools and medical providers.
How We Can Help You
Sarah Orr has provided assistance to many families seeking guardianships to protect the interests of vulnerable children, from infants to teenagers. Particularly when the parent cannot recognize their own issues, it’s important to have experienced counsel to guide the potential guardian through the legal process. The end result is that a vulnerable child is made safe and secure, and the family can avoid the involvement of the child dependency system.
