Contact Us Today 951-715-4632

Cullen Family Law Group
  • Home
  • About
  • Attorneys
    • Heather M. Cullen, CFLS
    • Alexandria Jaquay, CFLS
    • Moonazza “Mona” Naqvi
    • Da Nikka Huss
  • Services
    • Family Law
    • Divorce
    • Child Custody & Visitation
    • Child Support
    • Estate Planning In Divorce
    • Guardianship & Adoption
    • Legal Separation
    • Military Divorce
    • Property Division
    • Spousal Support
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Articles
  • Contact
Cullen Family Law Group
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Attorney Profiles
    • Heather M. Cullen, CFLS
    • Alexandria Jaquay, CFLS
    • Moonazza “Mona” Naqvi
    • Da Nikka Huss
  • Practice Areas
    • Family Law
    • Divorce
    • Child Custody And Visitation
    • Child Support
    • Domestic Violence
    • Guardianship & Adoption
    • Legal Separation
    • Military Divorce
    • Property Division
    • Spousal Support
  • Client Recommendations
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Articles
    • Video Center
  • Contact
  • x Close
EMAIL

CALL

Fast. Fair. Thorough.

  1. Home
  2.  | 
  3. Family Law
  4.  | 
  5. Guardianships

Guardianships

Guardianship law in California allows the guardian to take legal responsibility for a minor child. A family member may accept guardianship of a child if a parent becomes terminally ill, if the parents are unavailable or unfit to parent, or upon the death of both parents. Establishing a guardian when the parent is still alive generally requires the biological parents’ approval. If appointed legal guardian, there are several things that you are responsible for providing:

  • Food, clothing and shelter
  • Safety and protection
  • Management of the finances
  • Medical and dental care

An attorney can support your family as you consider whether a guardianship is in your family’s best interests. Contact Cullen Family Law Group for skilled guidance on guardianship issues. We will advise you of the proper procedure to obtain a guardianship. Our practice handles the guardianship and termination of guardianship proceedings.

California Guardianship Basics

There are three types of guardians: guardian of a person, guardian of an estate, and guardian of a person and estate. The different types reflect the knowledge that different people have different needs from guardians. The attorneys at Cullen Family Law Group can counsel you on the proper type of guardianship that would best suit the degree of assistance the dependent requires.

Adoption v. Guardianship In California

Adoption in California is different from legal guardianship. The Court may terminate the guardianship if it is in the child’s best interest. On the other hand, the Court cannot terminate an adoption. In some cases, stepparents who are unable to terminate the biological parent’s legal rights may seek guardianship instead of stepparent adoption. If the Court obtains protection over an adult, it is considered a conservatorship. We do not seek conservatorships for adults.

For any family law matter related to guardianship, contact a California family law lawyer at Cullen Family Law Group. We have law offices in both Riverside and Temecula.

Practice Areas

  • Family Law
    • Adoption & Guardianships
    • Domestic Violence
    • Grandparents’ Rights
    • Out of State Clients
    • Same-Sex Family Law
    • Stepparent Adoptions
    • Emergency Family Law Hearings in Riverside and San Bernardino
    • Request for Order (RFO): What It Is and How It Works
    • Unbundled Family Law Services
  • Divorce (Dissolution)
    • Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce
    • Domestic Partnerships
    • Estate Planning In Divorce
    • Grey Divorce
    • High Net Worth Divorce
    • Legal Separation
    • Mediation / Collaborative Divorce
    • Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
    • Same–Sex Divorce
    • Spousal Support
    • Dissolution Timeline
    • Divorce Do’s and Don’ts
    • Divorce When There Is a Business Involved: Protecting Your Rights
    • What to Do If You’ve Been Served Divorce Papers
  • Child Custody & Visitation
    • Child Custody Overview
    • Fathers’ Rights
    • Modifications
    • Parental Relocations / Move-Aways
    • Parental Rights / Paternity
    • Enforcing Custody and Visitation Orders in California
    • Emergency Custody Orders in California
    • Move–Away Orders: When One Parent Wants to Relocate
    • Understanding 730 Child Custody Evaluations in California
    • Communicating With Your Children
    • Parental Alienation
    • Parental Interference
  • Child Support
    • Spousal Support / Alimony
    • Wage Garnishments (Collection of Support)
  • Estate Planning In Divorce
  • Guardianship & Adoption
  • Legal Separation
  • Military Divorce
    • Military Pension
    • Dividing CALPERS, Military, and Government Pensions in Divorce
  • Property Division
    • Business Valuations & Business Controllable Cash Flow
    • Hidden Assets
    • Property Rights: Simple & Complex
    • Property Settlement
  • Spousal Support
    • Spousal Support / Alimony
    • Spousal support in CA: Why does the date of the settlement matter?

Find Out How We Can Help You.

Call 951-715-4601, chat with us, or request a consultation below.

Riverside Office

4094 Chestnut Street
Riverside, CA 92501
951-715-4632

Fax: 951-715-4601

Riverside Office
Cullen Family Law Group

Temecula Office

28465 Old Town Front Street
Suite 321
Temecula, CA 92590
951-715-4632

Fax: 951-715-4601

Temecula Office
Review Us
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
Pay Invoice

We accept Visa, MC, Discover, AMEX & E-checks.

© 2025 Cullen Family Law Group • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw