Today, many parents rely on the help of family members to raise their children for a variety of reasons. It may be that a parent is working two jobs or is attending school and needs a reliable sitter. Other times a parent may just be struggling and needs help taking care of their child.
Often times a child will stay at a relative’s house for a few days or a week at a time, but sometimes it turns in to longer durations, which may lead family members to seek a guardianship so that they can more easily act on the child’s behalf.
If you are a grandparent who is caring for a grandchild in your home, you many be wondering if a guardianship is a good idea. First of all it is important to understand that a guardianship can be open ended or terminate at a specific time. If your adult child is going through a temporary hardship or even a longer term issue, a guardianship is certainly appropriate and can be tailored to your unique situation.
A guardianship offers you legal protection by defining your duties and responsibilities and those of the parent during the period of guardianship, while allowing you to act on a grandchild’s behalf.
How Does a Guardianship Work?
As a general rule, guardianships require the voluntary consent of the parents except in cases where a parent may be deemed unfit. A legal guardian typically takes on the responsibility of the day to day needs of a child – basics such as food clothing shelter and medical care – while the parent continues to take financial responsibility.
The reasons someone might want to consider legal guardianship is so that they can obtain medical care or enroll a child in school without any issues or simply to have legal authority to care for someone else’s child in their home long term.
Applying for a guardianship is relatively easy. All parties will be interviewed by a court representative who will make a recommendation that will be forwarded to a judge. He or she will decide whether to appoint you and you and the parent will agree on the terms of the guardianship.
If you are interested in a guardianship, a good place to start is by asking a Wisconsin guardianship attorney questions about the rights a responsibilities of a guardian and what is the process to put a guardianship in place.
Probst Law Offices, S.C. provides experienced and knowledgeable advise to our clients who wish to obtain legal rights as grandparents. Probst Law Offices, S.C has handled even the most complex grandparent’s rights cases. Whether you are seeking visitation rights or a guardianship, our experienced family law attorneys will thoroughly review your situation, advise you of your rights and guide you through the legal process. Call (414) 210-3135 or send an email for a free, half-hour initial consultation with experienced Wisconsin grandparent rights attorney.