A Temporary Guardianship letter and a Power of Attorney are both legal documents that grant authority to another person to make decisions on behalf of a child. However, there are some important differences between the two. Here’s what you need to know.
Purpose of the Documents
A Temporary Guardianship letter is used to grant temporary authority to a caregiver to care for a child when the child’s parents are unable to do so.
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This may be necessary if the parents are traveling, hospitalized, or facing a personal crisis that makes it difficult to provide care for the child.
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that grants authority to another person to make decisions on behalf of the child for a longer period of time.
This may be necessary if the child’s parents are unable to make decisions for the child due to illness, disability, or other circumstances.
Duration of the Documents
A Temporary Guardianship letter is valid only for a specific period of time, as designated by the child’s parents.
The temporary authority granted by the letter expires at the end of the designated period, and the parents resume their normal parenting responsibilities.
A Power of Attorney may be valid for a longer period of time, depending on the terms of the document. The person granted the authority may be able to make decisions on behalf of the child until the document is revoked or expires.
Authority Granted by the Documents
A Temporary Guardianship letter grants temporary authority to a caregiver to make decisions on behalf of the child during a specific period of time.
The letter may grant authority to make decisions about the child’s healthcare, education, and other needs, but the authority is limited to the period of time designated by the child’s parents.
A Power of Attorney grants broader authority to another person to make decisions on behalf of the child. The person granted the authority may be able to make decisions about the child’s healthcare, education, and other needs for a longer period of time.