Guardianship

Read about where to file your lawsuit or case. Information on jurisdiction and venue.

If you cannot afford the filing fee or other court costs, you may qualify to have these fees and costs waived by the court.

This section will give you general guidelines for how to best prepare yourself for court.

Family changes: birth or adoption, domestic partnership, marriage or divorce, or personal information changes; name or address changes; employment changes: leave of absence, leaving calpers membership, retirement, returning to work, or death/illness/injury; death or terminal illness: injury/disability

Whatever the reason, you have the right to represent yourself, to be your own lawyer in all cases in California.

This resource guide was designed to answer basic legal questions related to marriage, domestic partnerships, parenting, foster care, and youth issues.

What is a legal guardianship?How can LSC help you? What does a guardian do? Can I live with another adult without a guardianship but with the permission of a parent? Do you live outside of San Francisco and Alameda Counties? Emancipation" is it an option?

A fact sheet for transgender spouses, partners, parents, and youth.

ADR is usually less formal, less expensive, and less time-consuming than a trial.

Types of probate guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, duties of a guardian, becoming a guardian, and forms.

If you have been taking care of a child who has been declared a dependent of the juvenile court, you may want to be more involved in the child"s court case and consider becoming a de facto parent.

If you"re a parent or Indian custodian, this guide can help you decide if ICWA applies to your situation, and explains what your rights are if ICWA does apply. It also explains what rights tribes have in your case, if ICWA applies.

Federal, state, and local programs are available to help you raise children who have disabilities.

The comprehensive guide to your rights and options as a parent, including sample letters to send to the authorities. Topics covered - (1) arrest: what happens to my child? (2) placement: where will my child live? (3) foster care & dependency: how can i keep my family together while i'm in jail or prison? (4) family reunification: how do i get my child back when i get out? (5) making a record: what can i do while i'm in jail or prison? (6) paternity: how do i show i'm the dad? (7) de facto parent: what is it? (8) child support: how can i pay when i don't have any money? (9) special immigrant juvenile status: what is it? who qualifies?

A child's relative or non-relative can fill out this form to enroll a child in school and make some decisions about the child's well-being.

Guardianships, dependency proceedings, getting a child out of a shelter, visitation rights of grandparents, when permanent custody is necessary, adoption, foster care, public benefits, relative caregiver options chart, and school issues.

National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System, National Emergency Child Locator Center, Unaccompanied Minors Registry, and American Red Cross Safe and Well.