Adoption & Guardianship Guidance You Can Trust

Simi Valley Adoption & Guardianship Lawyers

Since 2000, thousands have trusted Dallara Law with complicated, emotional, and highly impactful family and estate law matters, including adoption and guardianship. Clients have been glad to partner with us because we prioritize their satisfaction over all else and deliver personalized advocacy and support. If you have made the life-changing decision to add to your family via adoption or need assistance establishing or altering a guardianship, choose our firm. Whatever you want to accomplish, count on us to work closely with you to devise and implement a strategy to achieve it as seamlessly as possible. 

Call (805) 456-1066 or contact us online to request a free consultation. We proudly serve families in Simi Valley, as well as those throughout the Conejo Valley and areas in and around Ventura County. 

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Where Ethics Meet Excellence

See What Sets Dallara Law Apart
  • Client-Focused Care

    Each client receives personalized care and tailored legal strategies, ensuring your unique circumstances and goals are fully understood and addressed.

  • Experience With Integrity

    Dallara Law is built on a foundation of professionalism and ethical practice, ensuring clients receive honest, transparent advice without the typical lawyer stereotypes.

  • Collaborative Solutions

    We intentionally foster teamwork among our legal professionals, drawing on diverse expertise to provide comprehensive solutions for clients.

  • Prioritizing Peaceful Resolutions

    Committed to minimizing conflict and celebrating solutions, we emphasize mediation to save you time, stress, and costs associated with trials.

Why Hire an Attorney for an Adoption?

You may wonder why you would want to hire an attorney for adoption, especially when you can technically complete the process without one. First and foremost, a lawyer like ours at Dallara Law can be a resource as you encounter and work to overcome any challenges. Ours is a team of problem solvers who revel in the opportunity to help clients get through setbacks, so that nothing stands in the way of uniting their families through adoption. 

Additional significant reasons to hire a lawyer for your adoption:

  • Assistance with crucial paperwork and documentation that minimizes the chances of errors or omissions
  • Help obtaining your adopted child’s birth certificate as soon as possible 
  • Counsel and advocacy should someone contest the adoption 
  • Direction on what support is legally allowable to give a birth parent 

To learn more about adoption and the assistance our firm can provide, reach out to arrange a free consultation. 

How to Establish Guardianship 

To become a guardian, you must go through this process:

  1. Petition to become a guardian: This requires filling out and submitting numerous documents to the county court where the child lives.
  2. Giving notice to relatives: You must have a copy of your court papers delivered to the child’s parents and other close relatives.
  3. The investigation: The county court handling your case will assign an investigator to interview you and perform a background check. The investigator will then submit a report to the county court.
  4. Court appearance: You must appear before a judge to answer questions about your guardianship petition and why you believe it is necessary for the child to be in your custody. The judge will then determine whether to deny or grant guardianship.

Types of Guardianship 

Under California law, there are two primary types of guardianship: guardianship of the person and estate. Guardianship of the person grants you the power to make decisions on behalf of a child's medical care and education, among other things. Guardianship of the estate gives you the ability to manage a child's property or assets. You can serve simultaneously as guardian of the person and estate. However, courts can appoint separate individuals to fulfill these roles. 

Temporary vs. Permanent Guardianship

It is important to also note that guardianships may be temporary or permanent. Temporary guardianship is often necessary in situations where a parent is unable to care for their child for a certain period due to illness, military deployment, or other reasons.

Courts can grant permanent guardianship in cases where parents’ rights have been terminated or they voluntarily agree to it. The same applies if parents pass away. In these situations, guardians generally have full legal custody of a child until they reach adulthood. 

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Trust Your Case with Our Adoption & Guardianship Attorneys in Simi Valley

At Dallara Law, we have seen firsthand how emotional and complicated adoption and guardianship matters can be. That is why we approach every case with compassion, empathy, and dedication to achieving our clients’ goals. To enlist the help of our experienced lawyers, reach out to arrange a free consultation. 

Give us a call at (805) 456-1066 or get in touch via our online contact form

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A Law Firm That Cares Celebrating Your Successes

Read some of our recent five-star client reviews below.

  • “There is No One Better”
    “Ken is an amazing attorney who cares about his clients! He went above and beyond for my son and I.”
    - Aliza K.
  • “Integrity, Smarts, and Ingenuity”
    “If you're looking for someone you can trust implicitly, who has integrity and lots of expertise, Ken Dallara is the lawyer for you, too.”
    - Lisa
  • “They Made the Process Simple”
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    - Former Client
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    “It made what could have been a mundane, yet important experience, more fun and interesting for all of us. Definitely plan to use this law firm again as needs arise.”
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