Legal Guardianship
Guiding caregivers and legal guardians
More than 300,000 children in Los Angeles live with a relative or non-relative caregiver because their parents are unable or unwilling to care for them.
Without a legal relationship, caregivers who are willing to parent these children are limited in their ability to protect and provide for them. By obtaining legal guardianship for these caregivers, the Alliance is able to guide families to a more stable future.
“Before coming to the Alliance I was desperate, concerned, lost, and I didn’t know where to start. But after working with their attorney and legal assistant, I felt secure, supported and protected, and got the information I needed so that I could focus on caring for the children.”
- DINA G.
Foster to Family
Meet Mary
How We Can Help
The Alliance helps eligible caregivers become the legal guardians of the children in their care by representing them in probate court. These matters involve children whose parents cannot care for them and are not part of the foster care system, but are living with a relative or non-relative caregiver.
Legal guardianship can only be established by a court, not by a notarized letter from a parent. A court-ordered guardianship allows someone other than a parent to care for a minor and to make day-to-day decisions concerning the child’s well-being.
A “Legal Guardian” is ...
The person appointed by the court who assumes legal responsibilities for a child/minor. A legal guardian’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to the child’s:
Daily care
Custody
Education
Medical care
Additionally, legal guardianship allows a caregiver to:
- Add the child to the caregiver’s medical insurance
- Apply for public benefits on behalf of the child
- Make special education decisions for the child (including regarding the development of an IEP)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Alliance is Here.
If you are having any problems obtaining the proper level of funding for the children in your care, and/or problems getting your home approved by DCFS, please reach out.
