Appointing
the guardianship of a minor is a very sensitive
and delicate situation. It is extremely important that the individual that is
granted the responsibility for the guardianship of a minor is a capable, caring
and dependable adult. Legally, any individual who has reached the age of eighteen
and is a citizen of the United States is
permitted to obtain guardianship of minors.
A judge will usually appoint a
relative of the child or a close friend of the family to undertake the
guardianship of a minor. Often, a prospective guardian will be an aunt, uncle,
grandparent, cousin, or an older brother or sister. However, being a friend or
a family member does not automatically entitle an individual to acquire the
guardianship of minors. It is important that these potential guardians possess
certain qualities and characteristics, as well as meet certain criteria.
Before the guardianship of a minor is appointed, there are certain
elements about the guardian’s character that must be addressed and examined.
The most important thing that
needs to be considered is whether or not the proposed guardian is responsible
enough to handle the guardianship of minors. The individual that is being
considered must be dependable.
Another primary concern is whether or not the individual that is
being proposed to obtain the guardianship of a minor loves and cares for the
child. A guardian must have the child’s best interests at heart.
Any individual who is seeking to assume guardianship of minors
should be financially stable. A guardian will need to be able to provide for
the child. A person seeking to undertake the guardianship of minors should
themselves be in good physical and mental health. The proposed guardian should
not have any severe health problems that may interfere with their ability to
care for the child. Other considerations that may be taken into account when
appointing guardianship of minors is if the potential guardian has strong
values and morals and be able to provide a good example to the child.
Before authorizing the guardianship of minors to an individual,
the judge may take into account the location of the proposed guardian. Ideally,
living with the proposed guardian would continue to allow the child to have the
ability to visit with their family members and their friends. The condition of
an individual’s house and home life will also be taken into account when
appointing the guardianship of minors. The proposed guardian should be able to
provide the child with a safe and stable environment in which to live.
In most cases, a guardian should not be someone who has a criminal record or
a history of violence, abuse or neglect. A proposed guardian should be an
individual who can raise a child with the child’s well-being in mind. A
guardian should be someone who is responsible, caring, wholesome, healthy, and
trustworthy.
