SUCCESS STORY

Maria, a 64-year-old grandmother, has been caring for her three grandchildren for the past year. Ranging in age from seven to fifteen years old, the grandchildren had experienced molestation and witnessed drug use by their parents. They were now living in a safe home, but the future remained uncertain; Maria’s daughter, the children’s mother, was in drug rehabilitation and scheduled to soon return home. What could Maria do to keep her grandchildren safe?

How Legal Aid Helped
Through our Caregivers Legal Assistance Network, Legal Aid established Maria as her grandchildren’s legal guardian so that she could have full responsibility for their care.

• As Maria primarily speaks Spanish, Legal Aid matched her with a Spanish-speaking attorney who could best represent her interests.

• The attorney filed for a temporary, emergency guardianship to keep the children in California once their mother decided to travel to Mexico and refused to give written consent for the guardianship.

• Legal Aid served as Maria’s attorney in all court proceedings and successfully advocated for her to obtain full guardianship of her grandchildren.

Today, Maria oversees her grandchildren’s health and well being, knowing that the relationship is legally recognized. The children are in school and leading stable lives.

To help give hope to children and grandmother like Maria, please give a gift.