What are the differences between adoption and guardianship?

Adoption and guardianship are both legal agreements that allow a person to take responsibility for another person, usually a minor child. In Arizona, they are similar in that they both require court approval and create a parent-child relationship between the child and the adult taking responsibility. However, they are different in many ways. Adoption is a permanent agreement that terminates the rights of the existing parents and gives the adoptive parents full parental rights. Guardianship, on the other hand, gives the guardian some but not all of the rights of the existing parents. In Arizona, a guardian may have the right to make decisions about the child’s residence, schooling, health care, and religious upbringing, but cannot make decisions about inheritance, marriage, or consent to major medical treatments. Adoption also requires more extensive processes and paperwork than guardianship. Both options must be approved by a court, but an adoption involves more paperwork and interviews, and requires the consent of the current parents. Guardianship requires other forms of proof, such as financial statements and home inspections. Ultimately, both adoption and guardianship help provide a home and security for a child in need. An adoption is a more permanent option that creates a full parent-child relationship, while guardianship gives a guardian some control over the child in a more temporary arrangement.

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What are the differences between adoption and guardianship?

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