Guardianship vs. Adoption

Did you know that there is a legal difference between being a guardian and being an adoptive parent? If you are considering either option, you need to understand what each one entails. Simply put, a guardian is someone that takes care of a child's basic needs such as education, shelter, medical care and food. A guardian does not necessarily take care of all these items but it is a possibility. As a guardian, you have certain legal rights regarding the child. However, you do not sever the legal relationship between a child and his/her parent.

With an adoption, that tie is severed. Once a child has been adopted, the biological parent(s) do not have a say in the child's life any longer. By allowing a child to be adopted, the biological parents willingly give up all their rights to the child. There are a variety of reasons why children are adopted, one of which is that the parents no longer have the ability to financially support their children. If you have questions about adoption, guardianship, or child custody arrangements, contact the Meyers Law Group to get immediate answers from a Long Island family lawyer from our team.