San Luis Obispo Guardianship Attorneys

The attorneys at Hosford & Hosford have been providing expert legal representation to clients involved in a variety of family law disputes, including guardianship matters.

Contact the San Luis Obispo law office of Hosford & Hosford at (805) 439-1906 to schedule a consultation. Weekend and after hours appointments can be made upon request. Whether a mediated settlement, aggressive advocacy through litigation, or an appeal to a higher court is your best option, we have the training and experience necessary to resolve your case.

Under guardianship, a non-parent may be granted custody (both physical and legal) of a child when the biological parents are deemed unfit / unable to care for their children. A close relative of the child such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle usually files the petition for guardianship.There are two different types of legal guardianship – temporary guardianship and permanent guardianship. Guardianship cases are decided based upon what is in the best interests of the children. If the Court finds that guardianship is appropriate, the petitioners will receive temporary guardianship. This is not a termination of parental rights, merely a temporary suspension of the birth parents’ rights.

After temporary guardianship is assigned to a non-parent, the guardian is entitled to make all decisions on behalf of the child as if that child was the guardian’s own biological child. Permanent guardianship may be granted at a later date if the Court finds that doing so is in the best interests of the child.

Guardianship cases can become very complicated, and because custody and the right to make decisions on behalf of a child are at issue, they are often highly contentious. Because of the sensitive nature of these actions, parties should not attempt to litigate guardianship disputes without the assistance of an experienced attorney. The lawyers at Hosford & Hosford have been helping clients resolve guardianship disputes since 1977. Let us put our expertise and knowledge to work for you.

If you need representation in any family law issue, including guardianship, please complete our Divorce and Family Law Case Evaluation Form.

For immediate assistance with your specific Family Law issues, call us at (805) 439-1906 today to arrange a consultation. Our office is conveniently located in downtown San Luis Obispo. We also have offices in Orange County and Santa Barbara County for your convenience.