Family legal issues can be difficult to navigate, particularly those involving guardianship cases. Legal guardianship is a court-appointed legal relationship between an adult and a minor child, and it can be used when child abuse or neglect is suspected. In Los Angeles, the Dependency Court system within Juvenile Court handles these cases. The court will order the parent or guardian in question to provide fundamental care for the minor, but if that fails, other legal options may need to be considered. It is essential for anyone confronting family law issues involving children to seek professional assistance in order to understand their legal rights and responsibilities.
Legal guardianship and custody rights are two aspects of family law that parents must be knowledgeable about. Guardianship cases in Los Angeles may involve either a biological parent or a non-biological parent pursuing legal rights over the child. The court will evaluate the family code and determine which parent is most capable of providing for the child. In accordance with California family law, parents may be granted legal rights to their offspring, including custody and adoption.
Legal Dispute Between Parents
If there are legal disputes between the parents, a magistrate may be required to resolve a family law issue. Guardianship cases in Los Angeles frequently entail the appointment of a parental responsibility evaluator (PRE) and/or family investigator (FI) to assess the minor child’s best interests.
The PRE and FI will collaborate to evaluate both parents’ relationships with their children’s well-being and to propose solutions that will benefit all parties. The magistrate is ultimately responsible for determining custody or guardianship based on all available evidence. In order to secure the best interests of any minor child involved in such proceedings, parents may be granted full or partial parental rights over their children, or another guardian may be appointed.
Family legal issues in Los Angeles frequently involve child custody evaluations, formal child custody agreements, and possible guardianship cases. In a guardianship proceeding, the court will consider both the minor child’s financial resources and his or her best interests. A court order is required for a guardian to acquire guardianship assets or assume responsibility for the care of a minor.
Depending on the circumstances and requirements of the child, he or she may receive support from a living parent, another relative, or a guardian appointed by the juvenile court. If there are no surviving parents, probate court proceedings can be initiated to petition for an adult to assume responsibility for the minor’s financial and emotional support. Child support payments are also possible if either parent has sufficient financial resources and is approved by the court through any existing divorce decrees or newly filed cases for such purposes. Contact us now for more information.