How to Obtain Guardianship of My Teen Daughter's Baby in Florida

As a grandmother in Florida, you can obtain guardianship of your granddaughter.

Florida defines a guardian as a "surrogate decision-maker appointed by the court to make personal and/or financial decisions for a minor or for an adult with mental and/or physical disabilities." If your daughter has died or she is unable to care for her child, you can file a petition to obtain guardianship over the child. Once the court awards you guardianship, you take on the responsibility of caring and providing for the child.

Instructions

1. Hire a family law attorney who specializes in guardianship cases. A lawyer will advise you on the appropriate steps to take to obtain guardianship.

2. Complete an application for appointment as guardian, which your lawyer can provide to you. The application asks for your qualifications and the names and court file number for any other child for which you are a guardian.

3. Complete a petition for appointment, which again can be provided by your lawyer. This petition asks for basic information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number and places of residence.

4. File the application for appointment and petition for appointment at your local court house. You'll be asked to pay a filing fee and a service of process fee; as of 2011, these fees were $288.50 and $20, respectively.

5. Submit a credit history to the court if one is asked of you.

6. Submit a criminal history record check to the court. This can be done in one of two ways: through an electronic fingerprint criminal history record check or through a finger print card. You can obtain both at your local police department.

7. Wait for a decision from the examining committee. You may be asked to testify to provide more information to the court.

8. Attend the eight-hour educational course for guardians if the court gives you guardianship over your daughter's baby. This course is mandatory. The court will give you the time, date and location of the course.

References

• Florida Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts: Florida Guardianship Law and Information
• Find Law: Florida Guardianship Procedures
• Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pinellas County Florida: Probate Court - Guardianship