A guardianship is not always needed. There are simpler, less formal options that will give you the legal ability to care for someone else’s child. You might also be able to care for some of a child's needs if you can't get a hold of the parents. You don't have to go to court for these options. But they're not right for every situation. Read them
This guide can help you:
Before you ask the court to become a guardian, find out what you will be required to do if you become a guardian. You will have rights, but also many responsibilities, just like a parent.
Before your hearing to end the guardianship, the court may appoint an investigator to do an investigation. The investigator might be a court employee or someone from Child Protective Services or Social Services (typically, a social worker). Courts do not always have an investigation to end a guardianship.
After you file your papers, you have to give notice to the child's family members and certain other persons about the case and court date. You may also need to let the child and other adults in the child's life know about the case. To let them know, you must have someone deliver a copy of the court papers to them (called serving court papers).
After you file your Petition and get a court date, you must have another adult (called a server) mail a copy of your Petition and the Notice of Hearing to the child's family members and certain government agencies.
