A court can appoint a guardian to someone under the age of 18, or someone unable to take care of himself, when there is no biological parent available to care for the child. A guardian can be appointed to care for the child himself, or to oversee the estate of the child. In some cases the same guardian will perform both duties.
Duties of a Guardian | Lawyer in Raleigh NC
Let’s take a look at the duties of a guardian who has been appointed to be the caregiver of a child, then our lawyer in Raleigh NC will look at what someone must do as the guardian of the estate.
When a child does not have a parent to take care of him or her, the court appoints someone to step in and take their place. A parent may not be able to care for the children because of illness, drug or alcohol abuse, mental illness, or another situation that prevents them from providing for the child. If one or both parents dies, then the court must appoint a guardian if there was not one named in the deceased’s will.
Here are the duties of someone appointed guardianship of a child:
- To provide food, housing and clothing
- To provide medical and dental care
- To provide emotional support
- To enroll the child in school, or make sure he or she continues in their current school
In essence, the guardian will meet the needs that a parent would provide. However, in some cases, the court will make other requirements such as counseling for the guardian and/or the children, or required visitation with the biological parent or other relatives.
Be sure to visit back with our blog soon, as our lawyer in Raleigh NC will have more information about the duties of a guardian.
As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have concerning legal issues. Contact our lawyer in Raleigh NC to schedule a consultation if you have yet to start estate planning. If you don’t have an estate plan in place or haven’t reviewed yours in several years, now might be the best time to start. Our lawyer is here to help you get your estate planning in order and ready should you pass in an untimely manner or become incapacitated at some point. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to an estate plan. Contact our office, today, to get started estate planning.
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