Guardianships for minors help to guarantee the needs of a child. Guardians take over the day-to-day responsibilities of the parents. According to a survey by the National Core Indicators, 81 percent of guardians are family members.
If you worry about a child’s safety in your family, you may want to consider invoking guardianship responsibilities. However, you probably have many questions about what to expect.
Is it adoption?
The difference between adoption and guardianship is significant. Though guardianships may sever the fundamental parental rights of the biological parents, they still have legal ties to the child in the form of child support, inheritance and the potential right to see their children. A birth parent may remain in the child’s life depending on the severity of their situation and the potential danger they pose to the child. On the other hand, adoption gives complete control to the adopting parents. No legal obligation to the child remains from the biological parents, and the adopters take over parenting responsibilities for life.
Why do I need legal guardianship?
Sometimes family members end up in a guardianship situation without planning for it. However, without establishing a legal guardianship arrangement, you might have difficulties giving the child health care or sending them to the school of your choice. If you care for the child without taking the proper legal steps, you may not have lawful means to provide for them in the manner you see fit.
Taking over the parenting responsibilities for a minor is no small choice. However, family members who worry about a child’s well-being should strongly consider guardianships as an option. Consult with legal professionals about your options and decide on the child’s best interest.