Guardianship of Minor

questions & answers

Question: I am moving to Florida in a couple months and my 16 year old son wants to go live with his grandmother what do I have to do so she can make decisions for him like medical decisions and decisions about school it is only for a year

Answer: The grandmother can file a petition with the court for guardianship Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes, section 14-5204 and claim that your parental right of custody is suspended  by circumstances,, but there may be easier and less expensive ways to go.  You would be well advised to consult with an attorney and find out exactly what papers you will need.  There are 3 programs in Arizona that you can use to get some inexpensive legal advice and guidance.  One is the Modest Means Program.  For a $75.00 fee, the Modest Means Program will arrange a one hour consult with an experienced attorney.  The telephone number is (866) 637-5341. Both the Maricopa County Bar Association and the Pima County Bar Association have lawyer referral services that offer a 30 minute consult with an experienced attorney.  Maricopa County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consultation for a fee of $40.00. The telephone number is (602) 257-4434.  Pima County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consultation for a fee of $35.00.  The telephone number is (520) 623-4625.