Although this is an accepted practice in the community, it is not legally sanctioned. Informal guardianships are appropriate when a parent or parents agree to letting the minor live with some other adult. Where parents and the informal guardian agree, an informal guardianship can be used instead of a legal guardianship. An informal guardianship is arranged by the parents and the adult caring for the minor.
Informal guardianships are less expensive than legal guardianships.
There are no attorneys fees, court costs, fingerprinting fees, etc. An informal guardianship will not work where a parent does not agree to it. The informal guardianship is simply an agreement between parents and the informal guardian. Part of the agreement can be visitation between the minor and the parents. Setting up an informal guardianship is easy, there are two forms which should be filled out.