Full guardianship fully legitimizes a child s living situation. Guardianship should be considered when parents are absent and cannot be reached, parents are unable to make decisions in children s best interests owing to mental illness, alcohol or other drug dependency, mental retardation or other disability, and the like. Human Services will recommend guardianship only if there is a service need which cannot be addressed without the consent of a parent or guardian. This does not prohibit a person from seeking guardianship, of course. Chapter 48 actions are complex.
Actions limit guardianship to relatives.
Transfer of legal custody to the new legal guardian is possible as well. Chapter 880 actions are not so complex. Actions do not limit guardianships to relatives, and transfer of legal custody is not possible.