Two parents and child

Family & Safety

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Child guardianship
Usually, only a parent of a child has the authority to make decisions about the care of a child. Sometimes, a parent cannot or will not make care decisions for their child. Legal guardianship lets someone that is not a parent make care decisions for a child, just as a parent would. Learn more here.
Guardianship of a child
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to become a legal guardian of a minor child. You can also ask the court to appoint a co-guardian along with you.
Easy Form
Getting guardianship of a child
Explains how to get the legal right to take care of a child if their parent cannot or will not take care of the child.
Guide
Guardian ad Litem (GAL) basics
Explains what a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is. Includes when they are appointed, how to interact with them, and how they’re different from other guardians.
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Short-term guardianship
This Easy Form helps you appoint a short-term guardian to be responsible for a child. A short-term guardianship can last up to one year.
Easy Form
Confidentiality for mental and developmental disabilities
Information about privacy and protection under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.
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Ending a guardianship
Explains how a parent can get guardianship of their own child if the child is being taken care of by someone else.
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Starting a case for guardianship of a minor
Steps to get guardianship of a minor from the forms you need to how the court hearing works.
How-To
Creating a short-term guardianship of a minor agreement
Steps for a parent to appoint a short-term guardianship, including the forms you need.
How-To
Minor guardianship discharge
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to end someone's guardianship of a child who was previously in your care.
Easy Form
Starting a case to end guardianship of a child
Steps for a parent to end guardianship of a minor from the forms you need to how the court hearing works.
How-To
Standby guardian designation form
Use this form to designate another person to make day-to-day child care decisions for a minor child.
Form link
Creating a form to designate a standby guardian
Steps to designate a standby guardian of a minor, from the forms you need to how the court hearing works.
How-To
Department of Child and Family Services or DCFS guardianship
Explains DCFS's role in the guardianship of a child and how they can get involved in guardianship cases.
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Is guardianship required to enroll a child in school?
Explains whether you can enroll a child in school if you have a legal responsibility for the child.
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Guardianship for immigrant children
There are 4 types of guardianship for children of immigrants. This article explains to appoint a guardian to care for their children if they fear detention or deportation.
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