成为法定监护人
如果您希望成为儿童的法定监护人，您必须办理法庭诉讼。如果有人（可能是您，也可能是其他人）向法院提交法律文件，请求法院指派您为监护人，就会开始法庭诉讼。
法定监护替代方案
在开始监护案件之前，请务必了解您还有其他选择，包括：
- 签署家长权力委托书：父母可以使用家长权力委托书表格暂时允许看护人照顾其子女并作出重要决定。该表格需要至少一名法定父母和看护人的签名。
- 签署亲属看护人声明书：如果您正在照顾儿童但找不到其父母，您可以使用亲属看护人声明书表格来为儿童作决定，为期一年。
- 申请法定监护权：如果您是继父母、祖父母或养父母，您也可以向法院申请未成年子女的法定监护权。
- 收养儿童：您也可以收养儿童。收养是用新的法定父母取代儿童法定父母的法律程序。
请咨询律师寻求帮助，了解适合您的正确选择。您可以致电俄勒冈州律师转介服务寻找律师。
如何提交儿童监护案件
儿童监护案件始于某人向法院提交法律呈请书，要求法院为儿童指派监护人。启动案件之人还必须向儿童的父母提供法院文件的副本，并将案件情况通知他们。
提示：如果您想提交儿童监护案件，请联系当地巡回法院，看看法院是否有您可以使用的免费法院表格。俄勒冈州的一些县有免费表格，但并非所有县都有。如果您所在县没有免费表格，请联系律师寻求帮助处理文件。您可以致电俄勒冈州律师转介服务寻找律师。
应当在哪个县提交监护案件？
您必须在儿童居住所在县启动监护案件。
如果我启动监护案件，我是否必须告诉任何人？
是。您必须正式向以下人员送达您的法庭文件副本：
- 儿童父母双方
- 儿童（如果儿童年满 14 岁）
您还必须将法庭文件副本邮寄给：
- 任何照顾儿童之人
- 若父母已故，则其他近亲
- 俄勒冈州卫生局 (Oregon Health Authority)（条件是儿童参加俄勒冈州健康计划 (Oregon Health Plan)）
- 俄勒冈州公众服务部 (Oregon Department of Human Services)（条件是儿童接受食品券等政府援助）
父母或儿童是否可以不认同监护？
是。儿童（如果年满 14 岁）和儿童的父母有权告诉法院他们不认同监护文件。
如果父母或儿童不认同您成为监护人，法院将安排法庭听证会。在听证会上，您和父母可以与法官沟通并出示证据。听证会可以亲自到法院进行，也可以通过电话或视频进行。
如果儿童的父母对监护提出异议，法官通常不会指派监护人。法官必须假设儿童的父母正在考虑子女的最佳利益。在法庭听证会期间，您必须说服法官，父母的行为不符合儿童的最佳利益。您可以通过证明所发生的事情来实现说服。您还可以让证人作证并出示其他证据，例如短信、视频或照片。
其他常见问题
No, it’s not required that you hire a lawyer. You can use Oregon’s free Minor Guardianship court forms and get free help from court facilitators if you want to navigate this process on your own.
If any of the situations below apply, talk to a lawyer. You may still be able to become the child’s legal guardian, but the process may be more complicated:
- The child’s parents want to raise the child and do not agree with the guardianship.
- The child lived in another state during the past six months.
- The child has been involved in another court case, such as a custody, divorce, restraining order, or guardianship case.
- The Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare Division is involved with the child or family.
A guardian ad litem (GAL) helps a child during a specific court case, such as a divorce or lawsuit. The GAL can make decisions for the child related to the court case. For example, the GAL may work with the child’s lawyer on legal strategy or agree to settle the case. The GAL’s role ends when the case ends.
A legal guardian has broader, longer-term responsibilities that continue until the child turns 18, or the parents regain custody through the court.
A legal guardian must:
- Take care of the child and meet their needs.
- Make decisions for the child related to money, education, health, and other important issues.
- File an annual report with the court.
- Update the court and other people involved in the case if there are major changes with the child (like school changes, significant health issues, changes in the child’s living situation, etc).
Yes. The child (if they're 14 or older) and the child's parents have the right to tell the court they disagree with the guardianship papers.
If the parents or child disagrees with you becoming the guardian, the court will schedule a court hearing. At the hearing, you and the parents get to talk to a judge and show evidence. The hearing can be in person at the courthouse or by phone or video.
It is unusual for a judge to appoint a guardian if the child's parents object. The judge must assume the child's parents are doing what's best for them.
During the hearing, you must convince the judge the parents aren't acting in the child's best interests. You can do this by testifying about what has been going on. You can also have witnesses testify and present other evidence, such as text messages, videos, or photos.
在启动监护案件或采取任何法律行动之前，您应该咨询律师。这是一种复杂的情况。
如果公众服务部 (DHS) 儿童福利介入儿童的生活，在 DHS 结案之前，他们可以为儿童作决定。DHS 是儿童的法定监护人。
DHS 的目标是帮助父母成为更好的父母，以便其可以安全地抚养子女。但是，如果父母不改变，DHS 将寻找其他人长期照顾其子女。
如果您希望成为儿童的法定监护人，请咨询您 当地 DHS 儿童福利办公室的人员。让他们知道您有兴趣照顾儿童。DHS 个案工作者将考虑所有选择，并优先考虑承担责任的亲属。
如果儿童是美洲原住民部落的成员或有资格成为部落成员，则可能适用《印第安儿童福利法》(Indian Child Welfare Act, ICWA)。这项法律可能会使获得美洲原住民儿童监护变得更加复杂。在采取法律行动之前，您应该咨询了解 ICWA 的律师。