What is an informal guardianship?

An informal guardianship in Illinois is a legal arrangement whereby a person – the ‘guardian’ – is placed in charge of a minor child, who is known as the ‘ward’. Informal guardianships are typically arranged when the parents of the child are unable or unwilling to take on the role of guardian. In an informal guardianship, the guardian may be responsible for providing legal guardianship responsibilities to the ward, which include decisions related to the ward’s educational, medical, and other needs. In Illinois, an informal guardianship must be created through the Juvenile Court system. The court will typically hold a hearing to consider the request. A social worker may also be present to provide an evaluation of the guardian’s home and their fitness to care for the ward. The court may also ask for written documentation of the guardian’s mental and physical health, as well as a plan for how the guardian will meet the ward’s needs. Informal guardianships are not the same as adopting a child in Illinois. Adoption is a legal process that creates a permanent relationship between a child and their adoptive parents. The adoptive parents receive all the rights and responsibilities that come with legal parenting. On the other hand, informal guardianships are more temporary in nature, and the guardian only has legal guardianship responsibilities for the ward until the court decides a different arrangement or the ward reaches the age of 18.

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What is an informal guardianship?

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