If you are or if you know a minor who needs a responsible adult to make decisions for them other than their parent or their current guardian, you can use this interview to ask the court to appoint a guardian.

The guardian can make decisions about the minor's health, education, finances, and general welfare in place of the minor's parent.

Learn how interactive interviews work

More information:

• Guardianship of a Minor: An Overview

Can I use this tool?

You can use this interview if you are either:

• An adult who cares about a minor's well-being; or
• A minor who is 14 or older.

If you are under 14, you will need an adult to help you answer the questions in this interview.

If you are a parent and your child needs a guardian, you should have the adult that you want to be the guardian use this interview. You cannot use this interview if you are the parent of the minor.

You may also want to use the Care Type Finder to decide if guardianship is the right choice.

How to select the right court form

Before you start

Before you start, you may want to use the Care Type Finder to decide if guardianship is the right choice.

You will need to gather information about:

1. The minor's parents, including name, contact information, and whether they are living.
2. Anyone else who has taken care of the minor over the last 60 days.
3. Any bank accounts and other property that the minor owns.
4. Any current and past court cases that have to do with the minor.
5. Your own financial information, unless you are the minor.
6. The names and contact information of the person you want to be the guardian.
7. Information about whether the parent and the minor will agree to the guardianship.

What happens after you finish

After completing this interview, you will get your completed forms ready for filing. This interview may give you more information about what happens next based on your answers. Learn how to file in Massachusetts.

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