The importance of these letters is it allows the mother or father to make sure their child is cared for properly, in their absence. In fact, if a child is sick or needs medical attention, they will not be able to get the help they need without a notarized document such as this. Hospitals and clinics are increasingly picky about the medical care of a minor. They usually will not treat unless a parent is present. This document can protect the child and the parent, allowing them to get the care they need.
The letter needs to detail what the guardian can and cannot do. If it is a friend or relative, it is usually not a problem ironing out all the details. However, for the parent’s protection, you need to make sure the document has your best interests at heart. Depending on the type of arrangement will greatly depend on the legalities and how formal the letter should be. If a child must live with a relative for an extended period of time, then the letter would need to be more formal in nature than those that just on vacation for a few days. Set the letter up just as you would any other letter with a block style format.
Tips to write a Legal Guardian Letter
- Ensure the person you are granting guardianship to, is fully aware of their obligation, and that they will be liable if anything happens to your child.
- Be specific about dates of the custody (from and to), and outline any limitations of the guardianship if you feel necessary, such as not being able to leave the local area.
- If there’s a possibility that you may be late returning, include a clause stating that the guardianship is to be extended in the case of delays.
- Sign the letter to make it legally binding and if possible get somebody to observe the process and notarize it with their signature as well.
- Keep two copies of the letter, one for you and one for the temporary guardian.
Template
Use our free Legal Guardian Letter to help you get started.
From,
__________
__________
__________
__________
Date: _____ (Date on Which Letter is Written)
To,
__________
__________
__________
__________
Subject: Legal guardianship of ____________.
Dear Sir/Madam,
This letter is a legally binding document that gives ______________ temporary guardianship of ___________ . The guardianship will be effective from _________to _________.He/She will be allowed to make any decisions regarding medical treatments or other types of permission required by the child during this period.
_____________ will be in India on business during the time given in this letter and will not be easily available to make decisions if any medical treatment is required for their son. ___________ can be reached at ______________ or via mail at _____________.
The child’s doctor is Dr. ____________and her phone number is ______________. The child’s dentist is Dr.____________ and his phone number is _____________. A copy of this letter will be given to both doctors.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
________________(your name).
Sample Letter
From,
William and Elizabeth Smith,
120 Jisco West Road,
Jackson, Ohio 45640.
13th January 2019.
To,
Kimberly and Jamie Harr,
125 Jisco West Road,
Jackson, Ohio 45640.
Subject: Temporary Guardianship of Minor Child, Adrianna Smith.
Respected Sir/Madam,
From 25th January 2019 to 25th February 2019, William and Elizabeth Smith give temporary custody of their daughter, Adrianna Smith, to Jamie and Kimberly Harr. This Temporary Guardianship Letter will serve as a legal and binding document that will allow them to obtain medical treatment and to make any decisions regarding the needs of the child for this period.
William and Elizabeth will be in Europe on business for the dates listed above. They will not be able to provide medical treatment and see to the needs of their child during these time periods. Trusting in good faith, Jamie, and Kimberly Harr, they allow temporary guardianship so that they may make decisions regarding their child’s care. The address of the hostel that the Smith’s will be staying in is 7890 Piccadilly Square, London, England. The phone number there is [+44 20 8988 8300]. Since London is five hours ahead of the United States, consideration must be made when calling.
The child’s medical doctor is Jill Neff at McCarty Lane Pediatrics in Jackson. Their phone number is [740-286-5245]Adrianna’s’s dentist is Dr Rebo at Rebo Health Professionals, and the phone number is [740-286-0989]. A copy of this letter will be on file at both locations.
Sincerely,
William and Elizabeth Smith.
Email Format
The following is the Email Format to be followed for a Legal Guardian Letter.
To: name@email.com
From: name@email.com
Subject: Legal Guardian Letter.
Respected Sir/Madam,
Dear Sir/Madam,
This letter is a legally binding document that gives ______________ temporary guardianship of ___________ . The guardianship will be effective from _________to _________. He/She will be allowed to make any decisions regarding medical treatments or other types of permission required by the child during this period.
_____________ will be in India on business during the time given in this letter and will not be easily available to make decisions if any medical treatment is required for their son. ___________ can be reached at ______________ or via mail at _____________.
The child’s doctor is Dr. ____________and her phone number is ______________. The child’s dentist is Dr.____________ and his phone number is _____________. A copy of this letter will be given to both doctors.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
________________(your name).
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
_____________________(your name).