A filiation proceeding, also called an affiliation proceeding, is a proceeding brought in family court to establish the paternity of a child born out of wedlock, to identify the father of the child. It commonly establishes the father's duty...
juvenile law
fitness
Fitness is the ability and intention of a parent to take care of and raise their child well. The ability of a parent to care for their child is a measure of their ability to provide things such as adequate food, shelter, health care,...
foster care
Foster care is a state-run system in which a minor child–called a foster child–is taken into state custody and placed in the care of state-licensed adults who are not the child’s parent or guardian. This might take the form of a group home or...
foster child
A foster child is a minor child who has been taken into state custody and placed with a state-licensed adult, who cares for the child in place of their parent or guardian. Children often enter the foster care system as a result of an unsafe...
foster parent
A foster parent is an adult licensed by the state to care for a foster child(ren). Most foster parents provide temporary care after a child is removed from their home to do their parent or guardian’s abuse, neglect, or inability to provide...
guardian
Guardians are legal representatives appointed by a court to take care of individuals who are unable to take care of themselves. The person for whom a guardian is appointed is referred to as the ward. Wards can be either minor children or...
guardian ad litem
A guardian ad litem (GAL) is a person appointed by a court to look after and protect the interests of someone who is unable to take care of themselves, typically a minor or someone who is determined to be legally incompetent. They are...
guardian of the estate
Guardian of the estate refers to a type of guardianship where the court appoints a guardian to manage the finances of an individual. This type of guardian may be appointed for children, incapacitated adults, or spendthrifts in some...
guardian of the person
Guardian of the person is a type of guardianship where the guardian manages the personal affairs of the child, elderly person, or incapacitated individual such as medical needs, nutrition, rent, and transportation. Guardianship of the person...
guardianship
Guardianship refers to the legal role given to an individual to manage the personal activities (guardian of the person) or resources of another person (guardian of the estate) who cannot properly do so on their own. Guardianship often is used...