Options other than a guardianship
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
CARE Act forms
All California courts use the same basic set of forms for CARE Act proceedings. You can find the most commonly-used forms on this page. If you are not sure which forms to use, talk to your Self-Help Center or a lawyer.
Some courts have special local forms too. To see if you will need any special local forms, contact your court clerk or check
About the CARE Act
This guide has information about
- What the CARE Act is
- What CARE agreements and CARE plans are
- CARE Act eligibility requirements for the petitioner and respondent
- How to start CARE Act proceedings
- Where to get help filling out a CARE Act petition
- Process after filing the petition
- Petitioner’s rights - What your rights are if you
CARE Act index
Find a specific page in our guide to helping someone with a severe mental illness or view our step-by-step instructions for CARE Act proceedings.
CARE Act respondent rights
If someone has started CARE Act proceedings for you (also known as the “respondent”), you have rights throughout the process.
Explore options to help
Before starting the CARE Act process, explore options to help someone with a severe mental illness.
If you are related to a child who is removed from their home
If you are related to a child who is removed from their home, you may have certain rights. Generally, relatives and close family friends get preference when the social worker decides where the child should live. This is the case as long as they are willing to care for the child, and as long as the social worker and the court find they are an
File CARE petition
Fill out the required court paperwork to start CARE Act proceedings on behalf of someone else and file them with the court.