California Courts: Self-Help Center: Families & Children: Guardianship (Probate Court): Becoming a Guardian of a Child: General Information: What do I have to do to become the guardian?

To become the legal guardian to a child, you first have to file papers in court. You will need:

Petition for Appointment of Guardian of the Person, Form GC-210(P) if you are asking for guardianship of the person only,
Or
Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Minor, Form GC-210 if you also asking for a guardianship of the child's estate;
Attachment to Guardianship Petition-Child Information Attachment, Form GC-210(CA)
Notice of Hearing-(Guardianship or Conservatorship), Form GC-020
Consent of Guardian, Nomination and Waiver of Notice, Form GC-211
Duties of Guardian and Acknowledgement of Receipt, Form GC-248
Letters of Guardianship, Form GC-250
Declaration Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act - UCCJEA, Form FL-150
Confidential Guardianship Screening Form, Form GC-212
Order Appointing Guardian of child, Form GC-240
Guardianship Pamphlet* (this is for information only), Form GC-205
Forms You Need to Ask the Court to Appoint a Guardian of the Person, (for information only), Form GC-505
Other forms your local court may require.

* The Guardianship Pamphlet is also available in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese

Last modified: 01/05/2009