Create Now

What is a Guardianship Form?

The Co-Parenting Legal Guide

Make a Guardianship Form

A guardianship form will be used by the parents or current guardians of a child to list who will care for the child in the event that they become unable to do so, either temporarily or permanently.

Create Now

What is a Guardianship Form?

The Co-Parenting Legal Guide

How It Works

Create a Guardianship Form in less than 5 minutes

Professionally reviewed

Print and export to Word or PDF in seconds

Sample Guardianship Form

Create Guardianship Form

Read Full Document

Create Guardianship Form

A Guardianship Form: What Is It?

A guardianship form is often used in the case of a medical illness, accident, or death. The form will be used to determine who the child will go to or if they will become a charge of the court.

Guardianship forms may vary from state to state. However, they will all require some basic information. The names of the current parents or guardians must be included, as well as the child’s name. The names of the supplemental, temporary, or other potential guardians must also be included. You should speak to the person you are listing on the form to ensure they are comfortable accepting guardianship of the children in case of an emergency.

Click here to get started now!

Create a Guardianship Form in minutes with our professional document builder.

Get Started Now!

Contents of a Guardianship Form

A guardianship form is an important document. Think about it - what if something happens? What if you get sick and are unable to care for your dependents or attend to your assets? It's a nasty subject, we know, but this can happen. And if it does, you want to be sure your loved ones are left in the best possible temporary hands. This is why it's important you draw up a guardianship form template well before crisis occurs. It will save you and your loved ones time and stress in the case of an emergency.

Of course, you could go to a lawyer and pay to have guardianship forms drawn up. You can also save dollars and hassle by creating your own guardianship form. It's a fairly simple document. The major components of a guardianship form are as follows:

Identify Everybody

This includes the dependents, yourself (or whomever is creating this agreement - we're assuming it's you), and the guardian you are appointing. This section should include full legal names, as well as details about the assets and/or the dependents' date(s) of birth and gender(s). It should also include the guardian's address, contact information and relationship to the dependent(s).

Dates

This is a detail you will only be able to provide if the time comes. All the more reason to have a guardianship form template on hand. Your guardianship form should specify the time period during which your appointed guardian has guardianship duties. Be sure to check your state laws - maximum guardianship times vary from state to state.

What Can the Guardian Do?

Include sections explaining the say the guardian has in the following categories -

Travel
Healthcare
Education

Every guardianship agreement is different, so it's important to establish the ground rules for each of these topics.

What CAN'T the Guardian Do?

To make things completely clear, provide information on the guardian's limitations. For example, can the guardian make decisions as regards all medications, including psychotropic ones? Describe any limitations in detail, as the guardian will need to know his/her limits if the time comes.

Witnesses, Signatures, and Notarization Info

This is pretty self-explanatory. Rules may vary by state, but generally the guardianship form needs to be notarized, as well as signed and dated by the guardian and at least one witness.

The Co-Parenting Legal Guide

by the FormSwift Editorial Team

April 19, 2017

Co-parenting can be challenging, but it's often what's best for the children, which is why it's worth the effort. Some of the benefits that children see from co-parenting include feelings of security and stability, as well as a good understanding of cooperation and problem solving after seeing the parents work together. If you're ready to reap these benefits for your children, consider these tips on co-parenting effectively.

When Co-Parenting Works and Doesn't Work

Co-parenting works better for some parents than others. For example, it works best when the parents live near each other and can cooperate enough to avoid fighting in front of the children. Co-parenting doesn't work as well when the parents live far apart or put the children in the middle of their arguments. Parents who are willing to work on these issues together may have a chance of co-parenting successfully.

Tips for Communication Between Co-Parents

If you're having trouble co-parenting, learn to separate your feelings from how you act. Even if you're angry, avoid showing that via your words or body language. Save your negative or angry words for your therapist, and never use your child as a messenger between you and your ex. If you can't communicate without getting upset, use email or text messages to talk to the other parent. Using Google Calendar and giving your children a notebook with any important information to share with your ex can also keep you on the same page.

Basic Do's and Don'ts

Some of the most important "do's" include trusting your ex as a parent and being civil and reasonable. Scheduling appointments to talk about any problems and making clear rules and schedules can help with this. On the other hand, don't overreact or use abrasive words. And don't assume that your ex will be okay with any plans you make without first communicating.

Co-Parenting Tips for Decision Making

For co-parenting success, start with being consistent with the rules between both households. Be sure you're on the same page as far as discipline, too. The schedule at both houses should be similar, with bedtime, homework procedures and other rules being the same.

It's equally important to have a system for dealing with medical needs. You're both entitled to receive information about the children's health, and you should communicate before making medical decisions. Use the same system for educational needs. Talk to your ex before making decisions regarding clubs, sports, or school events.

Financial decision making should also go smoothly, as long as you set a budget for the children and keep records of shared and reimbursable expenses. Finally, consider setting rules for you and your ex regarding introducing your new romantic partners, making travel plans and consuming alcohol with the children in your care.

Issues That Co-Parents Might Face with Children

Even when both parents are making an effort to co-parent, issues might come up that you must solve together. For example, some children decide they don't want to visit with the non-custodial parent. This may be because they don't want to spend less time with their custodial parent, don't feel the non-custodial parent is involved enough or they simply don't want to miss a social event by traveling to the other house. When this occurs, go with the flow, making sure to put the child's best interests above your own feelings.

How to Discuss Divorce and Co-Parenting with Children

If you want to talk to your children about the divorce, be honest and supportive. Ensure they know they're not to blame and offer to get counseling for them. Whatever you do, don't bad mouth the other parent and do not discuss child support issues with them. You should also ensure the children know the visitation schedule and don't change it without consulting them and the other parent.

In addition, keep the children's ages in mind when considering their reactions to divorce. For example, babies need consistency, while toddlers need both that and patience. Younger children might act out or be angry. Be consistent with them and support their interests. Older children might align more with one parent, but you should encourage them to love and respect both. Finally, teenagers prefer to spend time with friends over family, so keep their social interests in mind as they go from one house to the other.

Tips for Mothers

Be the best parent you can be, which means not wondering what your ex is doing when he doesn't have the children. Refrain from telling him what you've been up to, as well. You should also avoid assuming anything about your ex. Instead, get out any frustration you feel by exercising, socializing or getting therapy.

Tips for Fathers

It is important as a co-parenting father to optimize the amount of time that you have with your children. For most divorced fathers, 50% of custody is a good goal. However, various scenarios might make this percentage lower or higher. Fathers with shared custody have better records of being close with their children and paying child support on time than those who don't. In addition, researcher Margaret Little says co-parenting fathers are "more likely than nonresidential fathers to share in decision making about their children and to be satisfied with the legal and physical custody arrangements."

Tips for Both Parents

Now that you're a pro at co-parenting, it's important to make sure your legal forms are always up to date and accurate. Single mothers and fathers should revisit the following forms post divorce: