Sometimes, parents or guardians may need a relative or other adult to care for their children temporarily. Parents may not always have time to go to court to appoint a temporary legal guardian, but there is an alternative to guardianship in California.
Parents can enter a temporary custody arrangement by working with a Rancho Cucamonga child custody lawyer and signing a Power of Attorney for a Minor Child.
This form, signed before a notary, allows you (the adult caregiver) to take physical “custody” of the child, and make educational and medical decision regarding the child. The parents must agree that you are not a danger to the child in any way.
It’s important to note that most insurance providers will not allow the child to be added to your insurance policy unless you have a court-ordered guardianship.
If the child will remain in California during this period of temporary care, you can fill out a Caregiver’s Authorization Agreement:
If you are a relative, this form will allow you to enroll the child in school, as well as gives you the same rights as a guardian to make decisions for the child regarding medical and mental health care.
If you are not a relative, the form will allow you to enroll the child in school but limits medical care decisions to school-related immunizations and physicals.
This form is not an official court form.
The parents of the child do not need to sign this form.
If the child is no longer living with you (the caregiver), the form becomes invalid.
The parents of the child can cancel both the Power of Attorney for a Minor Child and the Caregiver’s Authorization Agreement at any time.
Schools are required by law to accept the Caregiver’s Authorization Agreement, but they may give you a hard time about it.
The parents may cancel these forms at any time and take the child, even if it’s not in the child’s best interest.
You will most likely not be able to add the child to your insurance policy without a court-ordered guardianship.
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