If you are seeking temporary custody or guardianship of a minor who is not your biological child, there are a few options available in Gwinnett County.
School Enrollment and General Access
Effective September 1, 2018, Georgia law expands a parent’s right to appoint a caregiver for 1 year or less by executing a Power of Attorney. This document empowers the person caring for a child to enroll the child in school, obtain medical services and other access on behalf of a child. No Court action or filing fee is required. Click here to download the Power of Attorney for care of a Minor Child.
Visit our School Enrollment page for more information for registering your child in a Georgia school.
Probate Guardianship
Temporary Letters of Guardianship may be issued to a guardian who has been designated by the child’s parents.
WHERE:
75 Langley Drive
Lawrenceville, Georgia
(770) 822-8250
- Child is a resident of Georgia for the past six months or longer;
- Parents’ consent (both parents, or the unwed mother’s consent if there is no prior custody determination);
- The Court may waive the filing fees
Petition for Temporary Guardianship – Minor Child
Dependency
A petition for dependency may be filed with the Juvenile Court’s intake department. The Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will be involved in conducting a home study and other services as directed by the Court. Background checks of the petitioner and other occupants in the home are usually required.
WHERE:
Gwinnett County Juvenile Court
115 Stone Mountain St.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
(770) 619-6300
- Cannot obtain parents’ consent
- Child has been abused, abandoned, or in need of the Court’s services
- Some other emergency exists and the child needs protection
- Child’s residency for six months is not necessary if there is an emergency involved
