California Courts: Self-Help Center: Families & Children: Guardianship (Probate Court): Becoming a Guardian of a Child: What happens before the court date?: What does the Court Investigator do?

Return to the California Courts home page

Spanish/Español

You are here: Families & Children > Guardianship (Probate Court) > Becoming a Guardian of a Child > What happens before the court date? > What does the Court Investigator do?

The Court Investigator will set up a formal home study. The investigator will:

Visit the home where the child will live,
Interview the child and the proposed guardian,
Interview the parents if needed,
Review documents about the child (like school records and medical records), and
Do a background check on you and all adults living in the home to see if any of you has a record of neglect, abuse or a criminal record.

The Court Investigator will only investigate your case if you are a relative of the child.

If you are not a relative, the court will refer your case to your county's Department of Human Services or Department of Social Services and they will do the investigation.

[ Top of Page ]

<< back

Self-Help Home | Ask the Law Librarian | Q&A
Links | Need Legal Help? | Site Map

Last modified: 03/17/2008

About Us | Web Site Feedback
Web Policies | Public Access to Records | Accessibility