What is a Temporary Guardianship Agreement?

A temporary guardianship might be an option if:

You only need a temporary guardianship for 6 months or less; AND The parents will sign and notarize a temporary guardianship agreement. Only one parent’s signature is needed if the other parent is deceased, unknown, has no legal rights, or has had their parental rights terminated; AND If the child is 14 or older, the child will sign the agreement. If all of the above apply, you may be able to avoid a court order and get a temporary guardianship instead. A temporary guardianship agreement is a private agreement that does not require a judge's approval.

A temporary guardianship takes effect the day that all required parties sign the document, and automatically expires six months after that date if no sooner date is given. If a guardianship is still needed after six months, the parties can sign another temporary guardianship agreement or they can file for permanent guardianship through the court.

*A temporary guardianship agreement may not work for all purposes.* Usually, it cannot be used to get medical insurance for a child, and some medical providers may not accept it. A permanent court order might be needed for these issues.

Sources: https://www.familylawselfhelpcenter.org/self-help/guardianship/filing-for-guardianship-over-a-child/the-mother-and-the-father-will-both-consent-to-the-guardianship