Legal Question in Family Law in California

What is the legal age for filing for one's own guardianship?

there is a young girl aged 17 ( she'll be 18 in May) that was in my foster home for about 6 months. She left and moved to another home but we have always kept in touch and kept in close contact with visits and letters and so on. Well, she has been bounced around from foster home to foster home in the past 3 months that we want her back into our home. My liscence is no longer active so she cant be placed as a foster child.we wanted to go in the route of adoption orlegal guardianship. Does she have the right as a foster child to proceed with her own guardianship or adoption?Will her court appointed attorney help her with that or will we have to get another attorney?


Asked on 8/16/02, 12:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Martin Lathrop Russakow, Ryan & Johnson

Re: What is the legal age for filing for one's own guardianship?

If she is self-sufficent, then she should consider becoming an emancipated minor. That way she can live wherever she pleases and may stay with you for as long as you wish her to. Given her age, I do not think adoption is the best path for you to take. Her court appointed attorney should be fine to help. Good luck-martin.

Read more
Answered on 8/19/02, 7:13 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption questions and answers in California