Attorney
Maybe it happens while setting an extra place at the table, or when a tired child curls up on your lap after a too-long day. But you suddenly realize you’ve become the person that child turns to for comfort, care, and love.
Once you see it, you can’t un-see it. So you start to wonder if you should do something to make things official. That’s where Attorney Bob Matteucci and New Mexico’s kinship guardianship law come in.
As an experienced family law attorney, Bob can help you use this statute to get legal authority to care for a child you love when his or her parents are unable or unwilling to do so — whether that’s because of illness, work demands, addiction, incarceration, or simply a difficult chapter in their lives.
When is Kinship Guardianship Appropriate?
Kinship guardianship is a legal process that allows a relative, godparent, member of a child’s tribe or clan, or another adult who has a significant bond with a child in need, to come forward and take physical and legal custody of the child.
It is designed for situations where parents aren’t able or willing to parent at this time. But they might be in the future, so adoption isn’t the right answer and foster care is something you would rather see the child you love avoid.
What Kinship Guardianship Really Does
Imagine a scenario where a child you love spends most of their time at your home because his or her parents are not doing their job. You’re the one who shows up when school calls, the one who knows which stuffed animal helps at bedtime, the one who never forgets the allergy medication.
But when the school needs you to sign some paperwork, or a doctor needs parental consent to give a shot, or another important decision must be made quickly, things suddenly hit a wall. You’re doing the work of a caregiver, but without the legal authority to match.
Kinship guardianship bridges the gap between what you’re already doing and what the law needs you to be able to do by giving you custody of the child you love without you needing to adopt them.
After seeking guardianship, you become the person who can act in real time, the one who can make sure nothing falls through the cracks. The statute grants you the legal authority to:
- Enroll the child in school
- Approve medical care
- Access important records
- Provide daily structure and safety
- Make decisions that keep the child’s life running smoothly
Even though you become the person legally responsible for the child you love’s well-being, his or her parents are still in the picture. They may ask the court to end the guardianship arrangement at any time.
Serving Families with Dignity & Compassion
Families often seek kinship guardianship when love and practicality intersect. You have a child in your life who needs you. Your heart is telling you it’s time to step up. But you want to make sure if you are going to do this, you are going to do it right.
Kinship guardianship gives you the legal tools to turn the love you already give into a long-term solution. If you are curious to learn more about kinship guardianship, Attorney Bob Matteucci is ready to answer your questions. Please reach out to set up a meeting.