Less restrictive alternatives to guardianship
http://www.ncsconline.org/WC/Publicatio ... nalPub.pdf
The Future of Self-Represented Litigation:
Report From the March 2005 Summit
National Center for State Courts
Courts, particularly through self-help centers, can assess the needs of the self-represented to
direct people to the help they actually need. Not everyone coming to court actually needs a court
order. For example, a relative caregiver of a minor child may think he or she needs a court order
to enroll a minor in school, not realizing that other forms such as a Caregiver Authorization
Affidavit, or Power of Attorney—Minor Child will serve the purpose in many states. On the
other hand, if the minor would be at risk without a court order granting legal custody to the
relative caregiver, the guardianship process can be explained and forms provided.37 It is
important to stress that the self-help center staff does not tell the relative caregiver whether or not
he or she should seek a court ordered guardianship; rather staff explains the alternatives, what
each does and does not do, and armed with this information, the relative caregiver can make an
informed decision how to proceed. Staff can also refer the relative caregiver to support groups
or non-profit organizations that can provide assistance to one suddenly faced with the
responsibility of raising someone else’s child.
Less restrictive alternatives to guardianship
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