Previous posts on this blog have talked about how grandparents and other adults in Rockford, Illinois, who are taking care of young loved ones can use a guardianship to get custody and, with that custody, the other authority they need.
As these previous posts explained, however, setting up a guardianship is not just a matter of filling out paperwork and submitting it to a court, although this is of course an important step in the process.
For instance, without getting the child’s living parents to sign off on a proposed guardianship, a grandparent or other person seeking custody will have to show clearly and convincingly that the parents are unable or unwilling to take care of their children. This will almost without a doubt require gathering evidence and organizing it in to a persuasive argument that can be presented to a judge.
Because getting a guardianship is a complicated and involved process, even if the parents of the child in question agree to it but especially when they do not, it is usually a good idea for a grandparent or other relative seeking a guardianship to get legal representation.
A relative or even friend who is caring for a child who is not legally theirs, or who recognizes a child in their lives that needs such care, will need the legal tools necessary to help that child with medical needs and the like. They also need the authority to protect that child from dangerous situations and, in some cases, may need financial support for the child.
A guardianship is the means for meeting these needs. Our law office has a track record of helping grandparents and other relatives successfully set up and maintain guardianships so they can focus caring for their young loved ones who cannot help themselves.