When parents are not able to take care of their children, the court may appoint a non-parent guardian for the children. Temporary and permanent guardianship are two options to do this. Requesting the right type of guardianship plays an important role in the success of a case.

The legal process of guardianship can be confusing and the paperwork is complicated. Hiring an attorney for guardianship help is expensive. A People’s Choice can help you complete your documents for temporary and/or permanent guardianship and make the process less stressful. You do not have to navigate this complicated process alone. Read on to learn more about temporary and permanent guardianship.

What our Clients Say...
“The service provided by A People’s Choice was very professional and comprehensive. We have used A People’s Choice on a previous occasion and were completely satisfied. We would highly recommend A People’s Choice to anyone!”
R. Betancourt
“We love A People’s Choice. It’s legally run and professional. Everyone has to have a recommendation and license. Highly recommended.”
Christy C.
“Made the process so easy for me. Also VERY prompt replies through email. So glad I used their services.”
Kristina C.
“I can’t say enough about the level of service and professionalism I received working with A People’s Choice. Emails were always responded to quickly and thoughtfully. I ended up saving a lot of money by going with A People’s Choice over an attorney.”
M. Rice
“A People’s Choice – Saved me time, money & hardship. The people are professional and a pleasure to work with, I totally recommend them to everyone! I will used them for all my legal documents in the future. Thank you!”
C. Lazalde
“A People’s Choice is a business that delivers what they promise. I was treated like a VIP by their staff and Sandy was the best. As for their services, they promptly delivered all of the official documents and fillings on my behalf and their price is more than reasonable.
Juan B.
“Great service. Highly professional and efficient creating legal documents. I am completely satisfied and highly recommend them to others. People who are looking for professional legal services look no further, try A People’s Choice.”
Radtech N.
“I Recently used A PEOPLE’S CHOICE !!!! This service is absolutely AMAZING !!!! At first I was so confused , but after their process was explained to me , everything worked exactly the way they Said it would & they are there to help with the process. every step of the way , as promised. I would recommend this service 100% based on them being so efficient, professional, and always available to address any concerns that you may have . I appreciate the work that they did for me . THANKS !!!!“
R. Ivey
“This team is efficient, professional, ethical and easy to work with. Any of my questions were responded to immediately. They did everything they could to help me. I highly recommend their services.”
Leigh A.
“I am glad I chose A People’s Choice. They were very friendly and helped me with my documents in a very efficient way in very little time. Give them a try and you will be writing a positive review just as I did.”
D. Buelna
“A People’s Choice prepares legal documents so you can represent yourself and still look like you know what you’re doing. I utilized their services recently and found them to be professional as well as extremely helpful. I couldn’t be happier.”
Evan J.
“Extremely satisfied with the performance of A People’s Choice. The communication was excellent and all was handled in a timely efficient manner.”
Pam T.
“I needed help understanding and filling out legal documents but I didn’t have enough money to pay for an attorney. I would highly recommend A People’s Choice for your legal documents as you will get outstanding service at an affordable price. “
Sharon B.
“Very professional, excellent follow up and easy to work with. I will recommend them often! The staff rocks!”
Gene A.
“This company is excellent! They helped me get through all of my paperwork, submitted it to the court, and now everything is complete. Everything was clear and almost too easy. I saved thousands of dollars!”
Seth M.
“A People’s Choice is extremely customer orientated and friendly. Their service was fast and reliable. in the future, should I need their services again, I will not hesitate to call them. All e-mails were answered with either a phone call or e-mail sometimes even late at night”
Tar
“I highly recommend A People’s Choice. The customer service and professionalism are exceptional. This service is only a fraction of the cost, more responsive, and better suited to quickly completing complicated court forms. “
Linda F.
“A People’s Choice is a great option to get legal documents prepared inexpensively. They offer a very professional, low cost service for all sorts of legal paperwork. You won’t be disappointed and will save lots of money as compared to using an expensive attorney!”
Kathryn R.
“I have worked with A People’s Choice since September 2013. They are very knowledgeable and experienced. Their work is done professionally and timely. They showed a real concern for my situation. I recommend you give them the opportunity.”
D. Echeverra
“I was very happy with the service received. They were extremely responsive by phone and email and completed the document in less than 24 hours! All questions were answered promptly. I would highly recommend this service to anyone needing a legal document prepared!”
M.D.
“I recently required the help of A People’s Choice, Inc. and found them to be entirely professional. Everything was done in short order yet all was explained to my satisfaction. They were friendly and courteous. I am happy and impressed.”
C. Zyobel
“I was in need of some serious help and didn’t know what to do. I had contacted a lawyer and he wanted to charge me $1800.00. A People’s Choice got my paper work started and at a much lower cost. I am very grateful for the company’s services.
April R.
“Lightning fast response, I had my very simple document on the same day as my order for the very fair and reasonable price compared to my attorney who quoted me 3 weeks and $2500. I will definitely use these folks again and highly recommend them!”
L. Carnes
“A People’s Choice is awesome! They made the legal documentation process painless. I highly recommend A People’s Choice. The name says it all.”
Eric J.
“How much is peace of mind worth to you? This company of hardworking, caring individuals will help you get the job done in the quickest, most efficient way. Conveniently located. Check it out. Thank you!”
Diana K.
“I had the opportunity to use A People’s Choice again, Wow doesn’t say enough for the way the staff was able to get me in and out and all my answers answered. Very Professional, Organized and Friendly. I highly recommend!”
Debbie E.
“My wife and I needed to have some papers filed in court but found that traditional lawyers were quite expensive. They did a very professional job completing our paperwork and I might say, at a very reasonable price.”
D. Hileman

Get help with California Guardianship!

START MY GUARDIANSHIP

…or continue reading the article below to learn more about temporary and permanent guardianship in California.

What is Guardianship?

Guardians have the same rights and responsibilities as parents as long as they have guardianship of a child. They can make decisions about medical treatment, where a child lives, and education. A guardian is responsible for a child’s well-being and to provide for their basic needs. Parents usually prefer guardianship to adoption because it does not end parental rights.

Reasons for Temporary and Permanent Guardianship

The reason for guardianship will vary. More importantly, not all temporary and permanent guardianships infer someone is a “bad” parent. For example, parents deployed overseas for military service may choose to give another person informal caregiver guardianship. However, in these cases, caregiver authorization gives the individual caring for the minors limited rights without having a court-ordered guardianship. Specifically, caregiver authorization can give a non-parent the right to make school and medical decisions. It does not, however, allow the caregiver to put the child on their medical insurance plan. Many people choose an informal guardianship because it faster, more flexible and can be more easily terminated than a court-ordered guardianship.

If a parent is abusive or is going to jail, the adult caregiver for the child must apply for formal court-appointed guardianship. This will give the guardian the legal authority and power to make all decisions for the child. Furthermore, formal guardianship protects the child in this case. The legal guardianship remains in place until a court officially ends the guardianship.

How to Apply for Formal Guardianship

Guardianhip paperwork in California is very cumbersome. Generally speaking, however, to start a court guardianship, first you must file a Petition for Guardianship of a Minor (GC-210). You will probably need many other forms as well, but the Petition is the main document. You can find some of the standard forms at here. Most courts have required local forms as well which you attach or submit with the Petition at the time of filing.

Most temporary and permanent guardianship Petitions are filed with good intentions, but the process is rigorous in order to protect the child. An experienced document preparer such as A People’s Choice can help you correctly complete and file the right forms and prepare for the evaluation. You do not necessarily need an attorney for this process. However, expert guidance will make everything less stressful. A People’s Choice works with many people who want to get a court guardianship, and we have extensive experience with this process.

What to Expect at the Investigation and Hearing

After you file the petition, get ready for the investigation. An investigator will interview the potential guardian and visit their home. The investigator interviews the parents and the child as well. Expect a criminal background check as part of the investigation process. Once the investigator completes the interviews and home visit, they prepare a report and make their recommendation to the court. He/she will explain their concerns about the guardian and what they learned from the interviews.

Next comes a hearing to determine guardianship. Someone other than the potential guardian who is over the age of 18 must personally serve notice of the hearing on the child’s parents, the current caregiver of the child, and the child him/herself (if over age 12) at least 15 days before the hearing. The potential guardian must also send notice of the hearing to the child’s grandparents, siblings, the county human services department, and the State Department of Social Services via mail. At the hearing, the judge reviews the investigator’s report and decides if guardianship is in the best interest of the child. If the court establishes a guardianship, the guardian must file annual reports with the court.

Filing for temporary and permanent guardianship can be complicated and emotional. Even if a parent knows they cannot care for their child at any point in time, dealing with this process is hard. Contact A People’s Choice for more information on how to obtain a temporary or permanent guardianship order in California. We can prepare the necessary documentation for both informal and formal guardianships. Call us today at 805-648-5540.

Get help with your Legal documents today!

A People’s Choice can save you hundreds of dollars by preparing your legal documents instead of an expensive attorney!

GET STARTED!

Was this article helpful? We would love to know your thoughts! If you found this article helpful, please check the LIKE button below. Your feedback helps us plan topics for future articles.