Guardianship of a minor: An overview
Sometimes, parents can’t care for their children. For example, they may have trouble parenting because of drugs or alcohol. The parents may agree that a relative should take over raising their children through a guardianship. The decision about guardianship can be made between the parents and the person who wants to be the guardian. The decision can also be made by a court.
A guardian of a minor is someone who a court appoints to care for a child in place of a parent. A minor is a child under 18 years old. A guardian is in charge of a child's support, care, education, health, and welfare. Guardians must always act in the child's best interests.
There are 2 types of guardians for minors:
- Temporary Guardians
- Permanent Guardians
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