Print Legal California Guardianship Forms For Free

In California, parents can sign a Guardianship Authorization Affidavit. This form gives a relative permission to make decisions about the child's education and medical care, or a non-relative permission to make decisions about education and school-related medical care.

The probate court may appoint a guardian of the person for a child when no parent is available to meet the needs of the child because of the parents' death, incapacity, abandonment, military obligations, or other reasons.

Take your forms to the court clerk Guardianship cases are usually decided in the probate division of the court, so you will file them with the probate clerk. In some courts, guardianship may be decided in the family division. So, check with the clerk when you file to be sure where you should file your papers.

From the time the petition for guardianship is filed, it may take up to two months for the guardianship to be granted. The amount of time depends on the proper notice to relatives and a completed investigation as to the appropriateness of the guardianship.

If you decide that a child needs a probate guardianship, the first step in the process of establishing guardianship is to fill out and file the petition and other required documents with the clerk of the court. Some counties have additional ?local forms? that need to be filed along with the standard forms.

To become the legal guardian to a child, you have to file papers in court. You can get the forms you need from any Self-Help Center or the Court's forms page online. Or, go to the Judicial Council forms page . You can also attend a guardianship clinic.