Autofill Legal South Dakota Guardianship Forms For Free

Under South Dakota law, the temporary guardianship or conservatorship of a minor child cannot be longer than 6 months, and the temporary guardianship or conservatorship of a protected person cannot be longer than 90 days, unless extended for an additional 90 days by court order.

The appointment of a guardian or conservator of a protected person does not constitute a general finding of legal incompetence unless the court so orders, and the protected person shall otherwise retain all rights which have not been granted to the guardian or conservator, with the exception of the ability to create an ...

A South Dakota Guardian of Minor Power of Attorney Form enables parents to empower an agent with the ability and authority to safeguard the well-being of their children when they are otherwise unavailable or unattainable.

Legal guardians have the same rights as biological parents, but a legal guardian is not always a child's mother or father and may or may not be related to a child by blood. For example, a grandparent might be appointed a child's legal guardian if for some reason a child's mother and father cannot care for a child.

South Dakota child custody laws don't prescribe a certain age when a child's preference may be considered. Judges have broad discretion when deciding how much weight to give the child's preference. In some South Dakota custody cases, judges have considered the well-reasoned preferences of children as young as 10.

A petition explaining the need for a guardianship or conservatorship must be filed. An evaluation report from a doctor, a licensed psychologist, or a psychiatrist must be completed and filed with the court. A financial statement showing the financial resources of the protected person must also be prepared and filed.