How to Give Temporary Guardianship of Your Child
Giving temporary guardianship of your child to another adult is sometimes necessary in certain situations. For instance, a single parent in the military who is assigned to serve overseas may opt to give temporary guardianship of their child to a family member until they return.
- Find out the laws for your state. Many states require certain procedures that have to be followed in order to give temporary guardianship of a child to another adult. Make sure that you follow the proper procedures set forth by the state you live in.
- Understand the meaning of the temporary guardianship. During this time, you are basically giving another person the right to make all pertinent decisions regarding your child.
- Start the application process. Apply for a temporary guardianship at your local county courthouse. If you do not have a lawyer present with you, then the court clerk can help with the paperwork. It should be noted that if you do not have a lawyer, the court clerk will not be able to offer you any legal advice. They can only help you with filling out the paperwork. You must wait at least 4 weeks in most cases for the judge's decision on whether the guardianship will be granted.
- Release the guardianship papers to the proper authorities. After you have received notification that your temporary guardianship has been granted, you will need to give a copy of the temporary guardianship papers to the new guardian, the school that your child attends, as well as their pediatrician.