When someone other than a child's parent needs a court order for custody of a minor — or authority over money due a minor — California uses the guardianship process. We prepare the complete petition package at your direction, with or without Temporary Orders for urgent situations, covering guardianship of the person and of the estate.
Guardianship of the person covers care, custody and daily decisions for the child; guardianship of the estate covers money or property due the minor — for example an inheritance or life insurance proceeds that an institution will only release to a court-appointed guardian. Many petitions include both.
Establishing guardianship can take months and includes at least one hearing plus notice to both parents, both sets of grandparents, siblings over 12, and state agencies. When there's an urgent need, the court can appoint a temporary guardian for the period before the hearing — that's the With Temporary Orders package.
Yes — per the published limits: stand-by guardian appointments, minors of Native American or Native Alaskan heritage, minors who are wards of the court, or residents of state institutions. Free attorney referrals are available for those situations.
