Guardianship
Overview
Our Experts
Senior Supervising Attorney
Directing Attorney‚ Child‚ Youth & Family Advocacy
Senior Staff Attorney
Senior Paralegal
Staff Attorney
Guardianship is a legal process where an adult caregiver other than a child’s parents obtains custody of a child so that they can make decisions regarding the child’s care, education, and well-being.
Public Counsel works on guardianship issues through our Guardianship Clinic and our Families Belong Together team. At the Clinic, we provide free legal assistance to individuals involved in probate guardianship cases in Los Angeles County. Through Families Belong Together, we assist parents who are seeking to maintain custody of their children or reestablish contact after a separation. Public Counsel also engages in policy advocacy to ensure that families are not being inappropriately diverted to probate court after interactions with the child welfare system.
Visit our Guardianship services page to learn more about the Clinic’s work. Visit our Families Belong Together page to learn more about our work to reunite families.
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Services
Families Belong Together accepts calls to our intake line from parents seeking assistance on probate guardianship cases if the guardianship was suggested by child protective services. Visit our Families Belong Together page to learn more about our work to reunite families.
More InfoThe clinic is open Monday–Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., on a first-come, first-served basis and can help only a limited number of visitors each day. Services are provided in person at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Second Floor, Room 227, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
