This manual serves as a step-by-step guide for practitioners on how to obtain a guardianship and Special Immigrant Juvenile Findings (SIJ findings) from the probate division of the California Superior Court. Some practitioners will use this manual to seek both a guardianship and SIJ findings from the court, while others will seek guardianship alone for those clients who do not need or are not eligible for SIJ findings.1
The manual will introduce guardianships in probate court, followed by an introduction to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and SIJ findings. It will then provide a detailed guide forseeking guardianships and SIJ findings from start to finish.
Please note that court procedures and practices vary greatly between jurisdictions and judicial officers, and they often change. Here, we include information specific to current procedures before the Los Angeles County Superior Court. You will need to check the local rules at the court whereyou intend to file for information specific to your case and should also consult with an experience practitioner in your jurisdiction before filing a case.
