What is a legal guardian?
As a legal guardian, you are responsible for caring for and making decisions for the child, including:
- Where the child lives;
- Education;
- Health care;
- Social services;
- Financial support and/or public benefits;
- Supervision and misconduct;
- Driver license; military service; and marriage;
- Any other responsibilities that the judge orders. [2408]
Guardianship may look different depending on what court you are in. This section focuses on guardianships through probate court. To learn what guardianship looks like through a juvenile dependency court, visit PG. 755.
Sometimes a parent cannot take care of a child. Typical reasons include:
- Serious physical or mental illness;
- Military service and have to go overseas;
- In-patient rehabilitative treatment;
- Incarceration;
- Drug or alcohol abuse problem;
- History of being abusive; or
- Cannot take care of their child for some other reason.
A legal guardian can take care of a child when a parent is unable to until the parent is able to take care of the child again or a more permanent situation is made such as adoption.
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For more information about the duties of a guardian, read the Duties of Guardian form (GC-248), available on the California Court’s website at http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/gc248.pdf ↑