If you have been fostering a relative child in Ohio and are now considering adoption, you may also want to compare the benefits of subsidized permanent guardianship. While some families feel like adoption is the best route, others feel that this form of guardianship will be best for their situation. We at Kroener Hale Law Firm can help you determine the right option for your family and guide you every step of the way.
According to the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, one of the main differences between permanent guardianship and adoption is that guardianship legally ends once the child reaches adulthood, although most parents continue to remain involved in the child’s life.
While most decisions are made by the guardian, the birth parents still have some rights. If the parents’ rights have not been relinquished by the court, they can still be given visitation rights and must give consent in order for the child to be adopted. If the birth parents feel that their circumstances have been significantly changed and they are now capable of caring for their child, they have the right to prove that the change is in the child’s best interest and regain custody.
Both types of custodians can be given assistance, but permanent guardians may be given additional financial support from the birth parents if their right have not been terminated. Another right that adoptive parents have, but permanent guardians do not, is the right to change the child’s name to match the family name. For more information on this topic, please visit our web page.
