Art. 718 Purpose of guardianship

Guardianship gives kids a stable, permanent home when they can't go back to living with their parents and adoption isn't the right option for them. This usually applies to children who have been removed from their parents' custody because the court found they needed care and protection. Instead of leaving kids in temporary foster care indefinitely, guardianship gives them a permanent place to live, often with a relative.

The goal is to get kids into safe, lasting homes as quickly as possible. Once a guardianship is set up, the family generally doesn't need ongoing supervision from the state child welfare department, unlike foster care arrangements. This gives the child and the guardian more independence and stability going forward.

At the same time, this process has to protect everyone's legal rights. That means the court makes sure children's basic needs come first, while also respecting the legal rights of parents and other people involved in the case.