Assistance With Guardianship Applications
To apply for guardianship for your child, you can contact a lawyer to help you file the necessary papers in Surrogate’s Court. You can also file on your own. In most cases, it is not a complicated process, but the many forms do need to be properly filled out before submitting
If you prefer to “do it yourself”, here is where you can get some help:
http://nycourts.gov/Courthelp/DIY/guardianship17A.shtml is a government website which takes you step by step through filling out the initial application. It will ask you questions and “fill in the blanks” for you. You then print it out, sign, and notarize. You will still need to attach doctor forms, IEP, birth certificate, etc.
ARC Rockland in Congers NY runs free guardianship clinics to teach parents how to fill out the required forms. For more information call 845-267-2500
TAFKID in Flatbush runs free guardianship workshops several times a year. To register, call TAFKID at 718 252-2236.
Jody Brauner in Rockland County NY has many years of experience with guardianship applications. For a minimal fee, she will help with the required paperwork. For more information contact her at 845-731-9192
PLEASE NOTE:
Planning Aliyah? Israel does not recognize the USA Guardianship. You have to apply to the courts there. Having a USA Guardianship helps in the procedure to convince the court that the Guardians listed in the NYS Guardianship are capable of being the Guardians.
One of our fellow Beineinu parents, Ralph Gable, recently made Aliyah. They have offered anyone that is moving to Israel with a special needs child to contact them for help with some of the difficulties in navigating & accomplishing what is needed to have a smooth Aliya process.
Ralph & Esther Gable
20 Hoshea Street, Jerusalem Israel
845-920-9011 Direct NY Number
02-624-6280 Yerushalaim Home
058-740-5938 Cell Number