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SANTO MEHAS A Professional Law Corporation SANTO MEHAS A Professional Law Corporation
A Team of Compassionate Legal Advocates 805-222-7818
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Guardianship Guiding You Through Difficult Times

Guardianship Lawyers in Ventura

File for Guardianship in CA

There are a myriad of reasons why a child may need a guardian.

Sometimes parents have a difficult time taking care of their child due to:

  • Drug addiction
  • Physical illness
  • Mental illness
  • History of abuse
  • Unable to provide for the child
  • Parent faces jail time
  • Deployment overseas

What Is Guardianship?

In California, guardianship is defined as a court proceeding where a judge grants an individual who is not the child’s parent custody of the child, the authority to manage the child’s estate, or both.

How Is Guardianship Different Than Adoption?

Guardianship is not the same as adoption. In a guardianship, individuals may be supervised by the court. Additionally, the court can terminate the guardianship if the individual can no longer care for the child.

Guardians have the following rights:

  • Parental rights
  • Contact with the child

Adoptive parents are not supervised by the court and have the following rights:

  • Parental rights will be terminated
  • Legal relationship with the adopting parents is permanent and treated as if the adopting parents were the child’s actual birth parents

The courts will always uphold the best interests of the child standard to ensure that he/she is raised in a safe, stable, and loving environment. A legal guardian is a great option for a child when his/her parents are not available to provide this.

How to Get Guardianship in California

To obtain guardianship in California, you will need to fill out the mandatory paperwork and complete the following steps before going to court:

  • Fill out and file your forms with the court clerk
  • Give notice to the child’s parents, relatives, and any adoption agency involved – if applicable
  • Complete and file the proof of services forms
  • Get everyone who agrees to the guardianship to sign a consent and waiver of notice
  • Have a court investigator speak with you and prepare his/her investigation report
  • Attend your court hearing where the judge will either award or deny guardianship
  • File your court order with the court clerk

Our Ventura Guardianship Attorneys Care About You and the Child You Love

If a child you know or love needs a legal guardian, you are going to want an experienced attorney you can trust to help you protect that child. Our attorneys have 70+ years of combined legal experience and the compassion you would expect to handle your guardianship matter. We care about you and the child you love.

For additional information about our guardianship services, contact us online or call us at (805) 222-7818.

An Emphasis on Strong Family Values

Our firm places a strong emphasis on the importance of family values. The balance between maintaining these family values and generating a better future for you and your family is one we strive to achieve with each case. Our values consist of:
  • Holistic Approach

    We aim to resolve conflict so you and your family can move on peacefully. We approach all aspects of a case, including the emotional, financial, and mental components, and advocate with you throughout.

  • Collaboration

    Collaborative divorce can be a great option for spouses looking to share joint custody of their child/children and the court looks favorably on this decision. When possible, we strive to come to a resolution that will benefit both spouses.

  • Children Come First

    We respect the fact that our clients trust us with important life-decisions. We strive to be as understanding and empathetic as we can with you and treat you like we would treat a close family member.

  • Compassionate Legal Services

    We respect the fact that our clients trust us with important life-decisions. We strive to be as understanding and empathetic as we can with you and treat you like we would treat a close family member.

Our Satisfied Clients

Real Stories from Real People
  • “Thank you, Michael, you're a true professional and a very good attorney.”

    We had a real legal emergency at our business and Michael Mehas was there to immediately respond to the other side, allowing us to resolve our matter favorably. Thank you, Michael, you're a true professional and a very good attorney, and I would recommend you for any business or other legal matter.

    - Judy McDonald
  • “Donna is a fantastic attorney!”

    Can’t get a better attorney than Donna Santo. Donna is a fantastic attorney! She was able to comprehend the complications associated with nasty child custody problems and bitter divorce disputes. Donna and her staff were and continue to be extremely caring and empathetic to my family’s needs. I hold Donna with the utmost respect and recommend her to anybody who needs a knowledgeable and savvy attorney.

    - Eduardo
  • “Donna fought for me and she will fight for you.”
    I have a pretty complicated case that needed a lot of things done quickly and Donna was able to not only get them done but she knocked it out of the park and I am very happy with the outcome. She is also great at communicating things throughout the process in a way that I could understand.
    - Wayne
  • “If 10 stars had been a choice I would have given them 10 STARS.”
    “If 10 stars had been a choice I would have given them 10 STARS.”
    - Paul R.
  • “I would recommend him to anyone who needs a good attorney.”

    I am lucky to have had Michael Mehas handle my family law child custody and visitation matter, personal injury, and business and employment matters, and he's the only attorney I've ever used. He's very compassionate in what he does and combines many years of experience with a great understanding of the law. I would recommend him to anyone who needs a good attorney.

    - Molly C.
  • “Donna is the consummate professional and I would recommend her to anyone with divorce or family law issues.”
    “I came to Donna due to her strong reputation and extensive understanding in the area of family law. Based upon her very knowledgeable advice, I was able to settle my case without the time and expense of having to go to court.”
    - Dave Duckwitz
  • “I’d choose her services again without hesitation”
    “I’d choose her services again without hesitation”
    - Parker C.
  • “A+ lawyer!”

    It's been a constant struggle with my son's father, before acquiring Ms. Donna Santo as my attorney, I had no chance to show the courts the stress my ex was causing for me and my son. Ms. Santo and her team have helped me exercise my rights as a mother and legally they have put me in a position to ultimately give my son the best life possible. Her staff was extremely professional and helpful. I was very satisfied with the services I received and I would highly recommend her. She is a good listener and she gave me great advice. Ms. Santo went above and beyond to make sure I fully understood the process and responded quickly to emails and voicemails. She is the greatest lawyer ever.

    - Jess