Certain situations in life remove parents from a child’s life. When that happens, the courts usually turn to the next of kin. If you are a grandparent to grandchildren who need a guardian in Illinois, you may apply to the courts for guardianship through an attorney in Belvidere, IL.
What the Attorney in Belvidere, IL, Will Do
After you hire an attorney in Illinois, the attorney will check your background, investigate your criminal records and your finances, and possibly advise you on the next steps. A hearing takes you and your spouse before a judge to seek guardianship of your grandchildren.
At that time, your attorney will tell the judge why the parents are not able to care for the grandchildren and why you and your spouse are the next best choice. The judge may grant temporary guardianship until a final hearing or decide that you have full guardianship until the parents can step up and be parents again.
Other Situations That the Courts Might Expect or Order
Sometimes, the judge will order psychiatric evaluations to make sure the grandchildren won’t be a strain on you and your spouse. There’s also the possibility of testing for dementia or other factors that might limit your ability to care for the kids.
While the lawyer can’t help you with that, the lawyer can tell you what the judge might be thinking. Following through with court orders leading up to the final guardianship hearing is expected. To get started on this process, contact Crosby & Crosby Law Attorneys at Law.
