DC and Maryland Minor Guardianship Attorney
LEGAL GUARDIANSHIPS
FAMILY LAW
ESTATE PLANNING, PROBATE & LITIGATION
There are times when a minor child’s parents cannot or will not provide them with the level of care and concern they deserve, potentially exposing the child to dangerous circumstances and living arrangements. A minor guardianship may offer an ideal solution if you wish to take on the minor’s role of caretaker and have primary decision-making authority in everyday day-to-day responsibilities.
At The Law Offices of Thomas Stahl, our attorneys have years of experience navigating the often emotionally charged dynamics of minor guardianship proceedings in DC and Maryland. Like you, we believe that a child’s best interests should be the primary focus of their upbringing. Our extensive training in representing these types of cases has benefited many of our clients.
Understanding the Basics of Guardianship of a Minor
Guardianship and child custody share many similar elements and purposes, but there are several key differences between them. Unlike custodial rights, guardianship only permits an adult to exert legal authority in matters related to the minor’s everyday life decisions. It does not award custody but bestows legal power to act in the child’s best interests.
An advantage of this guardianship is that one does not necessarily have to seek termination of parental rights. This is how grandparents can take care of their grandchildren while the parents are temporarily unable to participate in rearing their children. These actions frequently occur in hopes of relinquishing obtained guardianship rights in the future because of the flexible nature of these orders.
Maryland and DC do allow interested parties in the case to contest petitions for minor guardianship appointments. When this occurs, you can expect to attend a court hearing to provide evidence supporting your petition. At this juncture, if the contesting party received notice of the hearing but has no objection or fails to appear, the court could proceed with ruling on your request.
Types of Minor Guardianship Options
When you choose to pursue guardianship of a minor, you need to decide if you want to care for the child, their property, or both. For some, this can be a confusing aspect of this process that requires further information and legal advice from a lawyer specializing in this area of law.
Whichever approach you take, once you are responsible for the everyday legal decision-making for the minor, you will need to comply with any requirements made by the court regarding the management of their healthcare, education, and assets. Technically, the child is the court’s ward, and you are acting on the court’s behalf in handling the day-to-day responsibilities.
A previously created estate plan that already designates you as a guardian can help avoid this often emotionally frustrating process in situations where a minor’s parents became incapacitated or pass away.
What Happens if the Parents or Other Relatives Contest My Guardianship Request or Want to End the Order?
- Attending the initial “Show Cause Hearing” and sharing your concerns with the court
- Filing an objection to guardianship
- File a motion to end the order and start the process over
- Petition the court to end control of the minor child
Why You Should Hire a Guardianship Attorney
- Explaining the role you must take on, and expected duties should you become a child’s guardian.
- DIY paperwork errors are a common issue that can delay your court action, which is why letting a knowledgeable attorney like Thomas Stahl file your pleadings for you can streamline the process
- DIY paperwork packets do not look out for your best interests in guardianship proceedings. An attorney will represent you and push for your better interests throughout the entire process.