Establishing Legal Guardianship in California

Unfortunately, a child's biological parents may not always be willing and able to care for him or her or uphold his or her best interests. In such cases, it is necessary for another adult to step in and assume the legal responsibility of raising the child.

At the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Graff, we help individuals and families throughout Southern California to establish legal guardianships for children under 18. We are familiar with all the family law courts in the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County area, and we have guided countless clients through the process.

When a Guardianship Is Necessary

Establishing a guardianship may be a vital step to take in a variety of circumstances, such as when a child's natural parents:

• Have passed away
• Have an alcohol or drug abuse problem
• Are incarcerated
• Are serving overseas in the military
• Are physically or mentally ill
• Have a serious physical or mental disability
• Are too young to provide adequate care

With more than 30 years of experience, attorney Jeffrey Graff has the knowledge and skill to handle all the legal paperwork and court appearances necessary to establish a guardianship. In most cases, you will not even have to appear in court yourself.

Legal Conservatorships

A legal conservatorship is similar to a guardianship, except that instead of protecting a child's best interests, it is intended to protect vulnerable adults over the age of 18. Many people with a developmentally or physically disabled family member apply to be that person's legal conservator. Likewise, elderly parents may need one of their adult children to become their conservator to help protect their financial interests. Jeff Graff is a Los Angeles and Ventura County child custody guardianship lawyer.

For help with guardianships or conservatorships in California, schedule a free initial consultation with a Thousand Oaks guardianship attorney. Call our office at 805-497-1311 or 818-719-6525, or contact us online.