In addition to divorce, child custody, asset division, spousal support and child support, guardianship matters fall under the category of family law. Usually, only a child’s parents have the authority to make decisions regarding the care of a child, but sometimes, a parent is unable or unwilling to make those decisions, and so a guardian must be appointed by a family court judge.
A guardian, who is often a family member, takes on the duties and responsibilities of a child’s parents. Different types of guardianship exist, depending on the child’s specific needs. It is important to note that parental rights are not terminated when a guardian is appointed, and that a parent may file a petition seeking the discharge of the guardian.
If you have been appointed guardian of a child, or if you are the parent of a child who has had a guardian appointed, you may have questions, so it can be very beneficial to speak to an Oak Park, IL family law attorney from the Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C.. Attorney Vincent C. Machroli has been helping Illinois families with regard to guardianship matters since 1988.