Guardianship Materials
Legal Guardian
A guardian has legal authority to make personal and financial decisions for a child or incapacitated party, indefinitely. This person is appointed by a court to serve as the guardian of a minor child or an incapacitated person to assure that the essential requirements for the health and safety of the person are met, to manage the estate or financial resources of the person, or both.
The Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association has assembled how-to guides and resources for those needing to establish legal guardianships.
Legal Guardian Resources
Resources for Guardians of Adults
- Oklahoma Handbook for Guardians of Adults
Information about guardianships of adults, including definitions, required court approvals and more (Updated February 2024) - Adult Emergency Instructions
- Adult Emergency Forms
Resources for Guardians of Children
- Oklahoma Handbook for Guardians of Minor Children
Information about guardianships of minors, including definitions, required court approvals and more. (Updated July 2023) - Emergency Guardianship Instructions (Minors)
- Emergency Guardianship Forms (Minors)
- Grant of Custody of Abandoned Minors to Qualified Relative (OSCN forms)
Petition for Custody by Abandonment, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction And Enforcement Act Affidavit, and Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act Affidavit
Guardian Ad Litem
A guardian ad litem is a person appointed by a judge to be the legal advocate of a child to determine a child’s best interests, in a single court action. A judge may appoint a guardian ad litem in divorce, parental termination or adoption cases to investigate and make recommendations about the custody arrangement best suited to the child’s needs. A guardian ad litem may also be appointed in guardianship cases to represent incapacitated persons.
The Family Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association has assembled the manual below, available in PDF through the link below.
Guardian Ad Litem Resources
Oklahoma Access to Justice
This website is provided by the Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation and the Oklahoma Bar Association at no cost to the public. This website is maintained for informational purposes for the public.