Guardianship for Youth 18 to 20 Years of Age

As of July 1, 2016, the law allows a guardianship of the person to be set up or extended for youth 18 to 20 years old in order to obtain the state court findings needed for a special immigrant juvenile status application.  The law permits these youth to give or withdraw consent to set up a new guardianship or extend an existing one.

To set up a new guardianship when the youth is 18 to 20 years old:

  1. Follow the instructions on Becoming a Guardian.
  2. If filling out a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Minor (Form GC-210), do not request a guardianship of the estate. Guardianships of the estate are not allowed for youth 18 to 20 years old.
  3. The youth can consent to the guardianship petition by signing page 4 of the Petition for Appointment of Guardian of the Person (Form GC-210(P))  or page 3 of the Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Minor (Form GC-210).
  4. If the judge approves the guardianship, he or she will sign the Order Appointing Guardian or Extending Guardianship of the Person (Form GC-240) establishing the guardianship.

To extend an existing guardianship past the youth’s 18th birthday, the existing guardian, another interested person, or the youth can:

  1. Fill out and file a Petition to Extend Guardianship of the Person (Form GC-210(PE)).
  2. Make sure this is done before the youth’s 18th birthday.
  3. If the judge approves the extension of the guardianship, he or she will sign the Order Appointing Guardian or Extending Guardianship of the Person (Form GC-240) extending the guardianship.