Guardianship is needed when a child's parents can no longer care for the child. Unfortunately, so many people are unprepared and do not designate a guardian for their child, so the court must. At Compass Legal Group, APC, our estate planning attorney in California, wants you to understand how setting up guardianship via your estate plan is critical if you have minor children or a child with a disability.
Contact us by filling out the online form or contacting us directly at (805) 852-5141 to schedule a Free 30-minute Consultation. We want what's best for you and your family, and preparing for the future through guardianship is critical.
What Constitutes a Guardianship in California
Guardianship is legal authority provided to a specific person to make decisions for another person. Typically, guardianships are necessary when a child's parents cannot care for the child – the child must be a minor or have a disability. The person with legal authority over the child is called the “guardian.” The subject (child) of the guardianship is referred to as the “protected person” or “ward.”
Endowed with legal authority, the guardian is responsible for the well-being and care of the child and can make decisions about the child's:
- Healthcare
- Residency
- Education
- Religion
Guardianship may also be needed over the child's estate when the child has inherited assets. The guardian will manage these assets until the child is an adult.
Reasons a Guardianship Might be Needed in California
Parents almost always have the legal right to make decisions for their children unless parental rights have been terminated. When parents cannot make those decisions, someone must step in to do it. This often happens when both parents have died or when both parents are incapacitated in some way by illness or injury. It can also be a situation where one parent has died or has no parental rights while the other parent is incapacitated.
Who Can Be Appointed a Guardian in California
Who the guardian is will often depend on whether or not a guardian was designated in a living will or last will and testament. The court would appoint a guardian if neither of the latter were created.
A Will Controls Who Can Become a Legal Guardian
By naming a legal guardian in a will or a living will, a parent can ensure that their child is raised in the way they would approve. While this is far less desirable than raising the child on their own, parents can keep the decision from being made by someone like a judge who does not fully understand their family.
Factors to Consider a Person as a Guardian
Choosing who to be a child's legal guardian is not easy. Parents often consider the following factors:
- Their personal relationship with the guardian
- How trustworthy and reliable the guardian is
- The age of the guardian
- Cultural or religious traits that the parent shares with the guardian
- Geographical proximity
- Whether the guardian already has children
Factors that Disqualify a Person as a Guardian
Not all people can be guardians. Examples of when a person does not qualify as a guardian include but are not limited to people who:
- Are incompetent (e.g., cannot care for themselves properly)
- Are also a minor
- Have filed for bankruptcy in the past (e.g., within 7 years)
- Have been convicted of a felony (unless the court states otherwise)
- Have committed violent crimes or offenses involving some type of abuse against a child, spouse, parent, or another adult
- Have been suspended or disbarred from a profession that requires a state license and involves the management of money
Naming a guardian in a last will and testament, however, can have a complication for parents who each have their own will, rather than a joint will. If both parents pass away – especially if they pass away at the same time – and their respective wills each name someone different, it can create confusion and may require court intervention.
Courts in California Appoint a Guardian in the Absence of a Will
In cases where the child's parent has become incapacitated or has died, and there is no will stating who will become the child's legal guardian, a court will appoint one. It will usually choose a close relative, although other people, like family friends, can ask the court to appoint them instead.
If there are no close relatives or family friends, the child will become a ward of the state and enter the foster system. Most parents would not want this situation placed upon their child, and in part, that alone is a critical reason to prepare a will designating a guardian.
How Long Does a Guardianship in California Last?
Guardianship usually lasts until the child becomes an adult at 18. The exception to this rule is when the child turns 19 before graduating high school. The guardianship will last throughout high school.
A guardianship may also be terminated under other circumstances, like when/if:
- The guardian or child dies
- The guardian becomes incompetent
- A parent who had been incapacitated no longer is
- The guardian requests the termination, and the court approves
In cases where the protected child is not yet an adult, the court will appoint another guardian unless the will indicates an alternative guardian.
Protect Your Minor Child: Contact a Guardianship Attorney in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara Today
If you have minor children, you want to ensure they are protected. A guardianship is one way to secure their livelihood and futures in a way that aligns with your family's values and customs. Our estate planning lawyer in California will help you identify what components will work best in your estate plan, whether it includes guardianship or other tools like a testamentary trust. Contact us online or at (805) 852-5141 to schedule a Free 30-minute Consultation and learn more.